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subdue

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To subdue is defined as to gain control over someone or something or to calm or quiet someone or something.

(verb)

An example of subdue is when you manage to calm angry protestors and gain control over the situation.

See subdue in Webster's New World College Dictionary

to bring into subjection; conquer; vanquish
to overcome, as by persuasion or training; control
to make less intense; reduce; diminish; soften; allay
to repress (emotions, passions, etc.)
to bring (land) under cultivation

Origin: ME subdewen (altered in sense and form by assoc. with L subdere, to put under, subject) < OFr soduire, to withdraw, seduce < L subducere: see subduce

Related Forms:

subduable adjective
subdual noun
subduer noun

See subdue in American Heritage Dictionary 4

transitive verb 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.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English subduen

Origin: , alteration (influenced by Latin subdere, to subject)

Origin: of Old French suduire, to seduce

Origin: , from Latin subdūcere, to withdraw (probably influenced by Latin sēdūcere, to seduce)

Origin: : sub-, away; see sub-

Origin: + dūcere, to lead; see deuk- in Indo-European roots

Related Forms: