SUBDUED • E-FREE TRANSLATION.COM • Definition of Subdued

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/səbdˈud/ Listen

verb

Subdue v. t. (past & past part. subdued; pres. part. subduing)

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."

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." "If aught... were worthy to subdue The soul of man."

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.

Synonyms: To conquer; overpower; overcome; surmount; vanquish. See Conquer.

adjective

Subdued adj.

1.

Conquered; overpowered; crushed; submissive; mild.

2.

Not glaring in color; soft in tone.

See images of 'Subdued'

Etymology of 'Subdued'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Subdued" Quotes from Famous Books

... Baster peace settled on Colet House; and Sir Maurice enjoyed very much his three days' stay. The Twins, though they were in that condition of subdued vivacity into which they always fell after a signal exploit that came to their mother's notice, were very pleasant companions; and the peaceful life and early hours of Little Deeping were grateful after the London whirl. Also he had many talks with ...

— The Terrible Twins • Edgar Jepson

... did they seem satisfied with the reception they met with from the King, as, in all appearance, to have quieted their riotous companions. The language of menace and remonstrance had changed into shouts of 'Vive le roi!' The apprehensions of Their Majesties were subdued; and the whole system of operation, which had been previously adopted for the Royal Family's quitting Versailles, was, in consequence, ...

— Marguerite de Navarre - Memoirs of Marguerite de Valois Queen of Navarre • Marguerite de Navarre

... subdued, are lovely on the middle-aged woman with black hair, quiet eyes and pale complexion, but if her hair is grey or white, mustard and sage green are not for her, and the magenta must be the deep purplish sort, which combines with her ...

— Woman as Decoration • Emily Burbank

... Emerson, and am studying them every night for fifteen minutes before I go to sleep. I'm going to quote them some time offhand, just after matins, when we are wandering about the cathedral grounds. The first is this: 'The Gothic cathedral is a blossoming in stone, subdued by the insatiable demand of harmony in man. The mountain of granite blooms into an eternal flower, with the lightness and delicate finish as well as the aerial proportion and perspective of vegetable beauty.' ...

— A Cathedral Courtship • Kate Douglas Wiggin

... expression and decision of feature than Mr. Linton's; it looked intelligent, and retained no marks of former degradation. A half-civilised ferocity lurked yet in the depressed brows and eyes full of black fire, but it was subdued; and his manner was even dignified: quite divested of roughness, though stern for grace. My master's surprise equalled or exceeded mine: he remained for a minute at a loss how to address the ploughboy, as he had called him. Heathcliff dropped his slight hand, ...

— Wuthering Heights • Emily Bronte

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