subdue
[ suhb-doo, -dyoo ]
/ səbˈdu, -ˈdyu /
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verb (used with object), sub·dued, sub·du·ing.
SYNONYMS FOR subdue
QUIZZES
QUIZ YOURSELF ON “THEIR,” “THERE,” AND “THEY’RE”
Are you aware how often people swap around “their,” “there,” and “they’re”? Prove you have more than a fair grasp over these commonly confused words.
Question 1 of 7
Which one of these commonly confused words can act as an adverb or a pronoun?
Origin of subdue
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English so(b)duen, so(b)dewen, from unattested Anglo-French soduer “to overcome,” from Old French soduire “to deceive, seduce,” from Latin subdūcere “to withdraw”; meaning in English (and Anglo-French ) from Latin subdere “to place beneath, subdue”; see subduct
synonym study for subdue
1. See defeat.
OTHER WORDS FROM subdue
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Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for subdue
British Dictionary definitions for subdue
subdue
/ (səbˈdjuː) /
verb -dues, -duing or -dued (tr)
to establish ascendancy over by force
to overcome and bring under control, as by intimidation or persuasion
to hold in check or repress (feelings, emotions, etc)
to render less intense or less conspicuous
Derived forms of subdue
subduable, adjectivesubduably, adverbsubdual, nounWord Origin for subdue
C14 sobdue, from Old French soduire to mislead, from Latin subdūcere to remove; English sense influenced by Latin subdere to subject
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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