Abatement of cause of action

What does Abatement of cause of action mean in American Law?

The definition of Abatement of cause of action in the law of the United States, as defined by the lexicographer Arthur Leff in his legal dictionary is:

In general, see abate. There is a special use of the term, however, which refers to the total extinguishment of a cause of action which depends upon the life of a particular person when that particular person dies, e.g., (in most jurisdictions) when the plaintiff in an action of defamation dies.