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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Subdue \Sub*due"\, verb (used with an object) [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}.
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
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}, {quash}, {keep down}, {subjugate}, {reduce}]
2: to put down by force or authority; "suppress a nascent uprising"; "stamp down on littering"; "conquer one's desires" [syn: {suppress}, {stamp down}, {inhibit}, {conquer}, {curb}]
3: hold within limits and control; "subdue one's appetites"; "mortify the flesh" [syn: {mortify}, {cricify}]
4: get on top of; deal with successfully; "He overcame his shyness" [syn: {overcome}, {get over}, {surmount}, {master}]
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}, {chasten}]
From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:
184 Moby Thesaurus words for "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
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