Meaning of subdue in English

Table of contents

Verb
subdue
Etymology
late Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French suduire, from Latin subducere, literally ‘draw from below’
Definitions
1. put down by force or intimidation
Examples
- « The government quashes any attempt of an uprising »
- « China keeps down her dissidents very efficiently »
- « The rich landowners subjugated the peasants working the land »
Derived terms
2. to put down by force or authority
Examples
- « suppress a nascent uprising »
- « stamp down on littering »
- « conquer one's desires »
Derived terms
3. hold within limits and control
Examples
- « subdue one's appetites »
- « mortify the flesh »
Derived terms
- mortification
4. get on top of
Examples
- « deal with successfully »
- « He overcame his shyness »
5. make subordinate, dependent, or subservient
Examples
- « Our wishes have to be subordinated to that of our ruler »
Derived terms
6. correct by punishment or discipline

Famous quotes

« One cannot subdue a man by holding back his hands. Lasting peace comes not from force. »
David Borenstein
« Subdue your appetites, my dears, and you've conquered human nature. »
Charles Dickens
« The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting. »
Sun Tzu
« As long as I retain my feeling and my passion for Nature, I can partly soften or subdue my other passions and resist or endure those of others. »
Lord Byron
« It is my own firm belief that the strength of the soul grows in proportion as you subdue the flesh. »
Mahatma Gandhi