abate vs relieve

abate

verb
  • To put an end to (a nuisance). 

  • Of a writ or other legal document: to become null and void; to cease to have effect. 

  • To make (a writ or other legal document) void; to nullify. 

  • To lower (something) in price or value. 

  • To cut away or hammer down (material from metalwork, a sculpture, etc.) in such a way as to leave a figure in relief. 

  • To decrease in amount or size. 

  • To lower in price or value; (law) specifically, of a bequest in a will: to lower in value because the testator's estate is insufficient to satisfy all the bequests in full. 

  • Of legal proceedings: to be dismissed or otherwise brought to an end before they are completed, especially on procedural grounds rather than on the merits. 

  • To decrease in force or intensity; to subside. 

  • To lessen (something) in force or intensity; to moderate. 

  • To enter upon and unlawfully seize (land) after the owner has died, thus preventing an heir from taking possession of it. 

  • To dismiss or otherwise bring to an end (legal proceedings) before they are completed, especially on procedural grounds rather than on the merits. 

  • To reduce (something) in amount or size. 

noun
  • An Italian abbot or other member of the clergy. 

relieve

verb
  • To release (someone) from or of a difficulty, unwanted task, responsibility etc. 

  • To ease (someone, a part of the body etc.) or give relief from physical pain or discomfort. 

  • To ease (a person, person's thoughts etc.) from mental distress; to stop (someone) feeling anxious or worried, to alleviate the distress of. 

  • To free (someone) from debt or legal obligations; to give legal relief to. 

  • To alleviate (pain, distress, mental discomfort etc.). 

  • To urinate or defecate. 

  • To ease one's own desire to orgasm, often through masturbation to orgasm. 

  • To bring military help to (a besieged town); to lift the siege on. 

  • To free (someone) from their post, task etc. by taking their place. 

  • To provide comfort or assistance to (someone in need, especially in poverty). 

How often have the words abate and relieve occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )