subdue
[ suhb-doo, -dyoo ]
/ səbˈdu, -ˈdyu /
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verb (used with object), sub·dued, sub·du·ing.
OTHER WORDS FOR subdue
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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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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
How to use subdue in a sentence
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
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