to conquer and bring into subjection: Rome subdued Gaul.
to overpower by superior force; overcome.
to bring under mental or emotional control, as by persuasion or intimidation; render submissive.
to repress (feelings, impulses, etc.).
to bring (land) under cultivation: to subdue the wilderness.
to reduce the intensity, force, or vividness of (sound, light, color, etc.); tone down; soften.
to allay (inflammation, infection, etc.).
Origin of subdue
1350–1400;Middle Englishso(b)duen, so(b)dewen < Anglo-French*soduer to overcome, Old Frenchsoduire to deceive, seduce < Latinsubdūcere to withdraw (see subduct); meaning in E (and Anglo-French) < Latinsubdere to place beneath, subdue
Related formssub·du·a·ble, adjectivesub·du·a·ble·ness, nounsub·du·a·bly, adverbsub·du·er, nounsub·du·ing·ly, adverbpre·sub·due, verb (used with object),pre·sub·dued,pre·sub·du·ing.un·sub·du·a·ble, adjective
late 14c., "to conquer," from Old French souduire "deceive, seduce," from Latin subducere "draw, lead away, withdraw" (see subduce). The sense seems to have been taken in Anglo-French from Latin subdere. Subduct in the sense of "subtract" is from 1570s. Related: Subdued; subduing.
