subdue Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb put down by force or intimidation
    reduce; repress; quash; subjugate; keep down.
    • The government quashes any attempt of an uprising
    • China keeps down her dissidents very efficiently
    • The rich landowners subjugated the peasants working the land
  2. verb to put down by force or authority
    inhibit; stamp down; suppress; curb; conquer.
    • suppress a nascent uprising
    • stamp down on littering
    • conquer one's desires
  3. verb hold within limits and control
    crucify; mortify.
    • subdue one's appetites
    • mortify the flesh
  4. verb get on top of; deal with successfully
    get over; master; overcome; surmount.
    • He overcame his shyness
  5. verb make subordinate, dependent, or subservient
    subordinate.
    • Our wishes have to be subordinated to that of our ruler
  6. verb correct by punishment or discipline
    chasten; tame.

WordNet

Sub*due" transitive verb
Etymology
OE. soduen, OF. sosduire to seduce, L. subtus below (fr. sub under) + ducere to lead. See Duke, and cf. Subduct.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Subdued ; present participle & verbal noun Subduing
Definitions
  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. Shak.
    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 1913