subdue
verb /səbˈdjuː/
/səbˈduː/
(rather formal)Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they subdue | /səbˈdjuː/ /səbˈduː/ |
| he / she / it subdues | /səbˈdjuːz/ /səbˈduːz/ |
| past simple subdued | /səbˈdjuːd/ /səbˈduːd/ |
| past participle subdued | /səbˈdjuːd/ /səbˈduːd/ |
| -ing form subduing | /səbˈdjuːɪŋ/ /səbˈduːɪŋ/ |
- subdue somebody/something to bring somebody/something under control, especially by using force synonym defeat
- Troops were called in to subdue the rebels.
- The most serious charges relate to the regime’s efforts to subdue insurgents in the northern provinces.
- subdue something to calm or control your feelings synonym suppress
- Julia had to subdue an urge to stroke his hair.
Word Originlate Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French suduire, from Latin subducere, literally ‘draw from below’.