sub·dued

[suhb-dood, -dyood]
adjective
1.
quiet; inhibited; repressed; controlled: After the argument he was much more subdued.
2.
lowered in intensity or strength; reduced in fullness of tone, as a color or voice; muted: subdued light; wallpaper in subdued greens.
3.
(of land) not marked by any striking features, as mountains or cliffs: a subdued landscape.

Origin:
1595–1605; subdue + -ed2

sub·dued·ly, adverb
sub·dued·ness, noun
half-sub·dued, adjective
self-sub·dued, adjective
un·sub·dued, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged

sub·due

[suhb-doo, -dyoo]
verb (used with object), sub·dued, sub·du·ing.
1.
to conquer and bring into subjection: Rome subdued Gaul.
2.
to overpower by superior force; overcome.
3.
to bring under mental or emotional control, as by persuasion or intimidation; render submissive.
4.
to repress (feelings, impulses, etc.).
5.
to bring (land) under cultivation: to subdue the wilderness.
6.
to reduce the intensity, force, or vividness of (sound, light, color, etc.); tone down; soften.
7.
to allay (inflammation, infection, etc.).

Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English so(b)duen, so(b)dewen < Anglo-French *soduer to overcome, Old French soduire to deceive, seduce < Latin subdūcere to withdraw (see subduct); meaning in E (and Anglo-French) < Latin subdere to place beneath, subdue

sub·du·a·ble, adjective
sub·du·a·ble·ness, noun
sub·du·a·bly, adverb
sub·du·er, noun
sub·du·ing·ly, adverb
pre·sub·due, verb (used with object), pre·sub·dued, pre·sub·du·ing.
un·sub·du·a·ble, adjective


1. subjugate, vanquish. See defeat. 3. tame, break, discipline. 3, 4. suppress.


4. awaken, arouse. 6. intensify.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Subdued is always a great word to know.
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a stew of meat, vegetables, potatoes, etc.
an extraordinary or unusual thing, person, or event; an exceptional example or instance.
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World English Dictionary
subdue (səbˈdjuː) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
vb , -dues, -duing, -dued
1.  to establish ascendancy over by force
2.  to overcome and bring under control, as by intimidation or persuasion
3.  to hold in check or repress (feelings, emotions, etc)
4.  to render less intense or less conspicuous
 
[C14 sobdue, from Old French soduire to mislead, from Latin subdūcere to remove; English sense influenced by Latin subdere to subject]
 
sub'duable
 
adj
 
sub'duably
 
adv
 
sub'dual
 
n

subdued (səbˈdjuːd) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
adj
1.  cowed, passive, or shy
2.  gentle or quiet: a subdued whisper
3.  (of colours, etc) not harsh or bright: subdued lighting
 
sub'duedly
 
adv
 
sub'duedness
 
n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

subdue
late 14c., "to conquer," from O.Fr. souduire "deceive, seduce," from L. subducere "draw, lead away, withdraw" (see subduce). The sense seems to have been taken over in Anglo-Fr. from L. subdere. Subduct in the sense of "subtract" is from 1570s.

subdued
c.1600, "subjugated," pp. adj. from subdue. Meaning "calmed down, reduced in intensity" is recorded from 1822.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
It's a kind of subdued magic, controlled and exquisite.
For those expecting something subdued from the tour pro, the dancing and silly
  costume was well received.
Note prominent spatter ramparts on right, and subdued rampart on left, built by
  the ejection of lava along the fissure.
Feistiness is an all-German trait these days, bolstered rather than subdued by
  the crisis.
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