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Webster 1913 Edition

Subdue

Sub-due′

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Subdued
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Subduing
.]
[OE.
soduen
, OF.
sosduire
to seduce, L.
subtus
below (fr.
sub
under) +
ducere
to lead. See
Duke
, and cf.
Subduct
.]
1.
To bring under; to conquer by force or the exertion of superior power, and bring into permanent subjection; to reduce under dominion; to vanquish.
I will
subdue
all thine enemies.
1 Chron. xvii. 10.
2.
To overpower so as to disable from further resistance; to crush.
Nothing could have
subdued
nature
To such a lowness, but his unkind daughters.
Shakespeare
If aught . . . were worthy to
subdue

The soul of man.
Milton.
3.
To destroy the force of; to overcome;
as, medicines
subdue
a fever
.
4.
To render submissive; to bring under command; to reduce to mildness or obedience; to tame;
as, to
subdue
a stubborn child; to
subdue
the temper or passions
.
5.
To overcome, as by persuasion or other mild means;
as, to
subdue
opposition by argument or entreaties
.
6.
To reduce to tenderness; to melt; to soften;
as, to
subdue
ferocity by tears
.
7.
To make mellow; to break, as land; also, to destroy, as weeds.
8.
To reduce the intensity or degree of; to tone down; to soften;
as, to
subdue
the brilliancy of colors
.
Syn. – To conquer; overpower; overcome; surmount; vanquish. See
Conquer
.

Webster 1828 Edition

Subdue

SUBDUE

,
Verb.
T.
1.
To conquer by force or the exertion of superior power, and bring into permanent subjection; to reduce under dominion. Thus Cesar subdued the Gauls; Augustus subdued Egypt; the English subdued Canada. Subduing implies conquest or vanquishing, but it implies also more permanence of subjection to the conquering power, than either of these words.
I will subdue all thine enemies. 1 Chronicles 17.
2.
To oppress; to crush; to sink; to overpower so as to disable from further resistance.
Nothing could have subdud nature to such a lowness, but his unkind daughters.
If aught were worthy to subdue the soul of man.
3.
To tame; to break by conquering a refractory temper or evil passions; to render submissive; as, to subdue a stubborn child.
4.
To conquer; to reduce to mildness; as, to subdue the temper or passions.
5.
To overcome by persuasion or other mild means; as, to subdue opposition by argument or intreaties.
6.
To overcome; to conquer; to captivate; as by charms.
7.
To soften; to melt; to reduce to tenderness; as, to subdue ferocity by tears.
8.
To overcome; to overpower and destroy the force of; as, medicines subdue a fever.
9.
To make mellow; to break; as land; also, to destroy, as weeds.

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