subdue

• POS: Verb (usu participle)
• HYPHEN: sub=due
• COUNT in NET: 12 in 12 verses (in OT : 9 in 9 verses) (in NT : 3 in 3 verses)

CIDE DICTIONARY

subdue, v. t. [OE. soduen, OF. sosduire to seduce, L. subtus below (fr. sub under) + ducere to lead. See Duke, and cf. Subduct.].

•  To bring under; to conquer by force or the exertion of superior power, and bring into permanent subjection; to reduce under dominion; to vanquish.  [1913 Webster]

  "I will subdue all thine enemies."  [1913 Webster]
•  To overpower so as to disable from further resistance; to crush.  [1913 Webster]

  "Nothing could have subdued nature
  To such a lowness, but his unkind daughters."  [1913 Webster]

  "If aught . . . were worthy to subdue
  The soul of man."  [1913 Webster]
•  To destroy the force of; to overcome; as, medicines subdue a fever.  [1913 Webster]
•  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.  [1913 Webster]
•  To overcome, as by persuasion or other mild means; as, to subdue opposition by argument or entreaties.  [1913 Webster]
•  To reduce to tenderness; to melt; to soften; as, to subdue ferocity by tears.  [1913 Webster]
•  To make mellow; to break, as land; also, to destroy, as weeds.  [1913 Webster]
•  To reduce the intensity or degree of; to tone down; to soften; as, to subdue the brilliancy of colors.  [1913 Webster]

Syn. -- To conquer; overpower; overcome; surmount; vanquish. See Conquer.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

subdue, v.tr. (subdues, subdued, subduing)
1 conquer, subjugate, or tame (an enemy, nature, one's emotions, etc.).
2 (as subdued adj.) softened; lacking in intensity; toned down (subdued light; in a subdued mood).

Derivative

subduable adj. subdual n.

Etymology

ME sodewe f. OF so(u)duire f. L subducere (as SUB-, ducere lead, bring) used with the sense of subdere conquer (as SUB-, -dere put)

THESAURUS

subdue

abate, allay, alleviate, anesthetize, appease, asphyxiate, assuage, attemper, baffle, bank the fire, bear down, beat down, bend, benumb, blunt, bottle up, break, break down, bridle, bring low, bring to terms, calm, calm down, censor, chasten, check, choke off, clamp down on, compose, conquer, constrain, control, cool, cork, cork up, crack down on, cradle, crush, curb, cushion, damp, damp down, dampen, de-emphasize, deaden, deaden the pain, deafen, defeat, diminish, dominate, downplay, drown, dulcify, dull, ease, ease matters, even out, extenuate, extinguish, fell, flatten, fluff, foment, gag, gentle, give relief, hold down, hold in check, humble, humiliate, hush, jump on, keep down, keep in check, keep under, keep within bounds, kill, knead, laxate, lay, lenify, lessen, lighten, limber, limber up, loosen, lull, mash, massage, master, mellow, milden, mitigate, moderate, modulate, mollify, muffle, mute, muzzle, numb, obtund, overcome, overmaster, overpower, override, overwhelm, pacify, pad, palliate, play down, plump, poultice, pour balm into, pour oil on, pour water on, prostrate, pulp, put down, quash, quell, quench, quiet, reduce, reduce the temperature, relax, relieve, repress, rest, restrain, ride down, rock, rock to sleep, salve, shake up, shut down on, silence, sit down on, sit on, slacken, slake, slow down, smash, smooth, smooth down, smooth over, smoothen, smother, sober, sober down, soft-pedal, soften, soften up, soothe, squash, squelch, stabilize, stanch, steady, stifle, still, stop, strangle, stultify, stupe, subjugate, suffocate, supple, suppress, tame, temper, tenderize, throttle, tone down, trample down, trample underfoot, tranquilize, tread underfoot, triumph over, tune down, tyrannize, underplay, unman, vanquish, weaken

ROGET THESAURUS

subdue

Success

VB succeed, be successful, gain one's end, gain one's ends, crown with success, gain a point, attain a point, carry a point, secure a point, win a point, win an object, get there, manage to, contrive to, accomplish, do wonders, work wonders, make a go of it, come off well, come off successful, come off with flying colors, make short work of, take by storm, carry by storm, bear away the bell, win one's wings, win one's spurs, win the battle, win the day, carry the day, gain the day, gain the prize, gain the palm, have the best of it, have it all one's own way, have the game in one's owns hands, have the ball at one's feet, have one on the hop, walk over the course, carry all before one, remain in possession of the field, score a success, speed, make progress, win one's way, make one's way, work one's way, find one's way, strive to some purpose, prosper, drive a roaring trade, make profit, reap the fruits, gather the fruits, reap the benefit of, reap the harvest, strike oil, gain a windfall, make one's fortune, get in the harvest, turn to good account, turn to account, triumph, be triumphant, gain a victory, obtain a victory, gain an advantage, chain victory to one's car, nail a coonskin to the wall, surmount a difficulty, overcome a difficulty, get over a difficulty, get over an obstacle, se tirer d'affaire, make head against, stem the torrent, stem the tide, stem the current, weather the storm, weather a point, turn a corner, keep one's head above water, tide over, master, get the better of, have the better of, gain the better of, gain the best of, gain the upper hand, gain the ascendancy, gain the whip hand, gain the start of, distance, surpass, defeat, conquer, vanquish, discomfit, euchre, overcome, overthrow, overpower, overmaster, overmatch, overset, override, overreach, outwit, outdo, outflank, outmaneuver, outgeneral, outvote, take the wind out of one's adversary's sails, beat, beat hollow, rout, lick, drub, floor, worst, put down, put to flight, put to the rout, put hors de combat, put out of court, silence, quell, nonsuit, checkmate, upset, confound, nonplus, stalemate, trump, baffle, circumvent, elude, trip up, trip up the heels of, drive into a corner, drive to the wall, run hard, put one's nose out of joint, settle, do for, break the neck of, break the back of, capsize, sink, shipwreck, drown, swamp, subdue, subjugate, reduce, make the enemy bite the dust, victimize, roll in the dust, trample under foot, put an extinguisher upon, answer, answer the purpose, avail, prevail, take effect, do, turn out well, work well, take, tell, bear fruit, hit it, hit the mark, hit the right nail on the head, nick it, turn up trumps, make a hit, find one's account in.

Moderation

VB be moderate, keep within bounds, keep within compass, sober down, settle down, keep the peace, remit, relent, take in sail, moderate, soften, mitigate, temper, accoy, attemper, contemper, mollify, lenify, dulcify, dull, take off the edge, blunt, obtund, sheathe, subdue, chasten, sober down, tone down, smooth down, weaken, lessen, check palliate, tranquilize, pacify, assuage, appease, swag, lull, soothe, compose, still, calm, calm down, cool, quiet, hush, quell, sober, pacify, tame, damp, lay, allay, rebate, slacken, smooth, alleviate, rock to sleep, deaden, smooth, throw cold water on, throw a wet blanket over, turn off, slake, curb, tame, smooth over, pour oil on the waves, pour oil on the troubled waters, pour balm into, mattre de l'eau dans son vin, go out like a lamb, roar you as gently as any sucking dove.