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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.

Definition 2024

subdue

subdue

English

Verb

subdue ‎(third-person singular simple present subdues, present participle subduing, simple past and past participle subdued)

  1. To overcome, quieten, or bring under control.
    • 2011 September 2, Phil McNulty, “Bulgaria 0-3 England”, in BBC:
      Gary Cahill, a target for Arsenal and Tottenham before the transfer window closed, put England ahead early on and Rooney was on target twice before the interval as the early hostility of the Bulgarian supporters was swiftly subdued.
  2. To bring (a country) under control by force.

Synonyms

Translations

Etymology

From Old French souduire ‎(“seduce”), from Latin subdūcere ‎(“to draw away”), perhaps influenced by Latin subdere ‎(“subdue, subject”).

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