subdue
UK /səbˈdjuː/ · US /səbˈdu/ verb
Forms subdues subduing subdued
- verb (transitive) To overcome, quieten, or bring under control.
- verb (transitive) To bring (a country) under control by force.
Synonyms
restrain stifle underbring behedge guard govern smother bind chasten choke back check inhibit catch contain vanquish cork curb quench quell bury repress quash keep down subjugate reduce suppress stamp down conquer mortify crucify
Etymology
From Middle English subdewen, subduen, sodewen, from Old French souduire, from Latin subdūcō (“to draw away”), perhaps influenced by subdō (“to subdue, subject”).
Webster’s 1913
- verb To bring under; to conquer by force or the exertion of superior power, and bring into permanent subjection; to reduce under dominion; to vanquish.
- verb To overpower so as to disable from further resistance; to crush.
Etymology [OE. soduen, OF. sosduire to seduce, L. subtus below (fr. sub under) + ducere to lead. See Duke, and cf. Subduct.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “subdue”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details