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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

sub·due       (səb-dōō', -dyōō')  Pronunciation Key  tr.v.   sub·dued, sub·du·ing, sub·dues To conquer and subjugate; vanquish. See Synonyms at defeat. To quiet or bring under control by physical force or persuasion; make tractable. To make less intense or prominent; tone down: subdued my excitement about the upcoming holiday. To bring (land) under cultivation: Farmers subdued the arid lands of Australia. [Middle English subduen, alteration (influenced by Latin subdere, to subject) of Old French suduire, to seduce, from Latin subdūcere, to withdraw (probably influenced by Latin sēdūcere, to seduce) : sub-, away; see sub- + dūcere, to lead; see deuk- in Indo-European roots.] sub·du'a·ble adj., sub·du'er n.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
subdue 

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

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

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Subdue

Sub*due"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Subdued; p. pr. & vb. n. Subduing.] [OE. soduen, OF. sosduire to seduce, L. subtus below (fr. sub under) + ducere to lead. See Duke, and cf. Subduct.]

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.