Link Centre Dictionary

subdue

sub·due

UK/səbˈdjuː/ US/səbˈdu/ uncommon

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”
Synonyms
2.

to put down by force or authority

  • “suppress a nascent uprising”
  • “stamp down on littering”
  • “conquer one”
Synonyms
3.

hold within limits and control

  • “subdue one”
  • “;”
Synonyms
4.

get on top of; deal with successfully

  • “He overcame his shyness”
Synonyms
5.

make subordinate, dependent, or subservient

  • “Our wishes have to be subordinated to that of our ruler”
Synonyms
6.

Origin

From Middle English subdewen, subduen, sodewen, from Old French souduire, from Latin subdūcō (“to draw away”), perhaps influenced by subdō (“to subdue, subject”).

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WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.