Forms: α. 4 so-, sudewe, so-, suduwe, sodeuwe. β. 5 subd(e)we, 5–6 -dew, 5–6 -dieu, 6 -deu, 5– subdue. [Of difficult etymology. ME. sodewe, subdewe, -due, represents formally AF. *soduer, *su(b)duer = OF. so(u)duire, su(d)duire, etc. (used with the meanings of L. sēdūcĕre) to deceive, seduce = OIt. soddurre:—L. subdūcĕre to draw up or away, withdraw, remove by stealth, purge, evacuate, calculate (see SUBDUCE, SUBDUCT). Neither L. subdūcĕre nor OF. souduire is recorded in the sense of ‘subdue,’ so that it is to be presumed that the AF. form took over the sense from L. subdĕre, the pa. pple. of which is represented in Eng. by SUBDIT from c. 1375.
There is no clear connection in form or sense with the AF. subduz of Edw. III stat. ii. c. 17, ann. 1353; the meaning is app. ‘attached’ or ‘arrested,’ not ‘subdued.’ The 15th c. AF. subduer (Littleton, Inst., ed. 1516, A vij b) was prob. modelled on the current Eng. form.]
1. trans. To conquer (an army, an enemy, a country or its inhabitants) in fight and bring them into subjection.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), III. 19. [He] wente and sodewed Siria. Ibid., 443. Þanne he stood wiþ [MS. β suduweþ, MS. γ sodeuweþ] the peple þat woneþ at þe foot of þe hille mont Caucasus.
c. 1420. Lydg., Assembly of Gods, 1651. Fooles … Wenyng to subdew, with her oon hande, That ys ouer mekyll for all an hoole lande.
c. 1460. Fortescue, Abs. & Lim. Mon., xvi. (1885), 150. Is hyghnes shalbe myghty, and off poiar to subdue his ennemyes.
1486. in Surtees Misc. (1890), 54. I subdewid Fraunce.
1535. Coverdale, Zech. ix. 15. They shall consume and deuoure, and subdue them with slynge stones.
1553. Eden, Treat. Newe Ind. (Arb.), 21. How the Portugales subdued Malaccha, shalbe said hereafter.
1593. Shaks., 3 Hen. VI., III. iii. 82. Iohn of Gaunt, Which did subdue the greatest part of Spaine.
1653. Holcroft, Procopius, Goth. Wars, 14. Since God hath given us Victory, and the glory of subduing a City.
1667. Milton, P. L., XI. 687. To overcome in Battel, and subdue Nations.
1788. Gibbon, Decl. & F., xlvii. IV. 582. The Samaritans were finally subdued by the regular forces of the East: twenty thousand were slain.
1841. Elphinstone, Hist. India, I. 397. They even assert that the same kings subdued Tibet on the east, and Cambója … on the west.
1879. Froude, Cæsar, xix. 330. He [sc. Cæsar] wished to hand over his conquests to his successor not only subdued but reconciled to subjection.
† b. Const. to, unto, under the conqueror or his rule. Obs.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., VI. xix. (Tollem. MS.). Whan y hadde sudewed all þe worlde to my lordschipe.
c. 1420. ? Lydg., Assembly of Gods, 584. Owre gret rebell May we then soone euer to vs subdew.
c. 1460. Fortescue, Abs. & Lim. Mon., ii. (1885), 111. Whan Nembroth … made and incorperate the first realme, and subdued it to hymself bi tyrannye.
1549. Compl. Scot., xi. 30. Ȝour ald enemes hes intendit to … subdieu ȝou to there dominione.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., II. x. 13. Thus Brute this Realme vnto his rule subdewd.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., II. xvii. 88. When a man … by Warre subdueth his enemies to his will.
† c. To overcome or overpower (a person) by physical strength or violence. Obs.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., I. iv. 51. Rest a while Till morrow next, that I the Elfe subdew. Ibid., II. v. 26. Full many doughtie knights he … Had … subdewde in equall frayes.
1593. Shaks., 2 Hen. VI., III. ii. 173. As one that graspt And tugg’d for Life, and was by strength subdude. Ibid. (1604), Oth., I. ii. 81. If he do resist Subdue him, at his perill.
d. transf. and fig.
1611. Bible, Dan. ii. 40. Forasmuch as yron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., I. 228. Burrs and Brambles … th’ unhappy Field subdue. Ibid., IV. 247. Subdu’d in Fire the stubborn Mettal lyes.
1799. Cowper, Castaway, 47. By toil subdued, he drank The stifling wave.
1883. R. Bridges, Prometheus, 761. The broad ways That bridge the rivers and subdue the mountains.
† e. To reduce to order or obedience. Obs.
1481. Cov. Leet Bk., 493. To subdue such personez as here late offended; diuerse of which personez be nowe late indyted of ryott & trasspas [etc.].
2. To bring (a person) into mental, moral or spiritual subjection; to get the upper hand of by intimidation, persuasion, etc.; to obtain control of the conduct, life or thoughts of; to render (a person or animal) submissive; to prevail over, get the better of. Const. to (that which exercises control, the control exercised).
1509. Hawes, Past. Pleas., XXXIV. xii. He [sc. Cupid] is aduenturous To subdue mine enemies, to me contrarious.
1535. Coverdale, Wisd. xviii. 22. He ouercame not the multitude with bodely power … but with the worde be subdued him that vexed him.
1538. Starkey, England, I. i. 12. Ther ys no best so strong … but to man by wysdom he ys subduyd.
1552. Abp. Hamilton, Catech. (1884), 48. Thai ar nocht subdewit to the rychteousness.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 405. The Prynces … by a certen feare and terrour subdued.
1588. Shaks., L. L. L., I. ii. 187. His [Love’s] disgrace is to be called Boy, but his glorie is to subdue men. Ibid. (1610), Temp., I. ii. 489. This mans threats, To whom I am subdude, are but light to me.
a. 1721. Prior, Dial. Dead (1907), 219. Swords Conquer some, but Words subdue all men.
1817. Jas. Mill, Brit. India, II. IV. iv. 156. Pigot, with a hardihood which subdued them,… declared that … he would furnish no money.
1833. Ht. Martineau, Brooke Farm, vi. 80. This recollection awakened others which subdued me completely.
1853. Newman, Hist. Sk. (1876), I. I. i. 3. He was subdued by the influence of religion.
1855. Tennyson, Brook, 113. Claspt hands and that petitionary grace Of sweet seventeen subdued me ere she spoke.
absol. 1781. Cowper, Retirement, 266. God has form’d thee with a wiser view, Not to be led in chains, but to subdue.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., I. I. ii. And so … did this [growth] of Royalty … spring up; and grow mysteriously, subduing and assimilating.
refl. 1513. Douglas, Æneis, XIII. i. 37. The catall, quhilkis favorit langeyr The beist ourcummyn as thar cheif and heyr, Now thame subdewis vndir his ward in hy Quhilk has the ovirhand.
1833. Tennyson, Dream Fair Women, lix. It comforts me in this one thought to dwell, That I subdued me to my father’s will.
1870. Dickens, E. Drood, ii. I must subdue myself to my vocation.
b. With a person’s body, soul, mind, actions, etc., as obj.
c. 1520. Nisbet, N. T., Rom. ii. 15, marg. The fleische nother is nor cann be subdewit tharto.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 148 b. We must … subdue all our inordynate thoughtes.
1548. Act 2 & 3 Edw. VI., c. 19 § 1. Due and godlye abstynence ys a meane … to subdue mens Bodies to their Soule and Spirite.
1591. Shaks., 1 Hen. VI., I. ii. 109. My heart and hands thou hast at once subdu’d. Ibid. (1603), Meas. for M., IV. ii. 84. He doth with holie abstinence subdue That in himselfe, which he spurres on his powre To qualifie in others.
1667. Milton, P. L., VIII. 584. If aught … were worthy to subdue The Soule of Man.
1769. Junius Lett., xxxv. 167. Before you subdue their hearts, you must gain a noble victory over your own.
1791. Mrs. Radcliffe, Rom. Forest, ii. Having subdued his own feelings, he resolved not to yield to those of his wife.
1817. Shelley, Rev. Islam, Ded. xi. A prophecy Is whispered, to subdue my fondest fears.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., iv. I. 469. Those emotions were soon subdued by a stronger feeling.
1863. Geo. Eliot, Romola, xx. She herself wished to subdue certain importunate memories.
c. transf.
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., I. xiv. 73. It miȝte seme that God wolde not subdewe or submitte … and sende him [sc. Holy Scripture] to resoun, for to be interpretid.
1535. Coverdale, Phil. iii. 21. Acordinge to ye workynge wherby he is able to subdue all thinges vnto himselfe.
1781. Cowper, Retirement, 416. Wild without art, or artfully subdu’d, Nature in ev’ry form inspires delight.
† d. To achieve, attain (a purpose). Obs. rare.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., II. ix. 9. Perhaps my succour … Mote stead you much your purpose to subdew.
† e. To bring to a low state, reduce. Obs.
1605. Shaks., Lear, III. iv. 72. Nothing could haue subdu’d Nature To such a lownesse, but his vnkind Daughters. Ibid. (1606), Ant. & Cl., IV. xiv. 74. His face subdu’de To penetratiue shame.
3. To bring (land) under cultivation.
1535. Coverdale, Gen. i. 28. Growe, and multiplie, and fyll the earth, and subdue it.
1628. May, Virg. Georg., I. 6. Nor is’t unwholesome to subdue the Land By often exercise.
1677. W. Hubbard, Narrative, 63. To engross more Land into their hands then they were able to subdue.
1794. S. Williams, Vermont, 307. Their lands, which they had … subdued by extreme labour.
1829. B. Hall, Trav. N. Amer., I. 86. In proportion as the soil is brought into cultivation, or subdued, to use the local phrase.
1867. Ruskin, Time & Tide, xxv. § 176. Set … to subduing wild and unhealthy land.
4. In medical use: To reduce, allay. ? Obs.
1615. G. Sandys, Trav., 134. The iuyce of Cedars; which by the extreme … siccatiue faculty … subdued the cause of interior corruption.
1732. Arbuthnot, Rules of Diet, in Aliments, etc. (1736), 262. Cresses, Radishes, Horse-Radishes,… subdue Acidity.
1804. Abernethy, Surg. Obs., 176. The inflammation of the brain was now subdued.
1809. Med. Jrnl., XXI. 52. Although the hysteric affections were still very troublesome, she could now completely subdue them by the use of pills.
1829. Cooper, Good’s Study Med., II. 515. The inflammation is to be subdued by blood-letting.
5. To reduce the intensity, force or vividness of (sound, color, light); to make less prominent or salient. (Cf. SUBDUED 2.)
1800. Ht. Lee, Canterb. T. (ed. 2), III. 139. A circular pavilion … Where both light and heat were subdued by shades.
1815. Shelley, Alastor, 165. With voice stifled in tremulous sobs Subdued by its own pathos.
1843. Ruskin, Mod. Paint. (1851), I. II. I. vii. § 21. The warm colours of distance, even the most glowing, are subdued by the air.
1845. Antiq. & Archit. Year Bk., 319. Unable to subdue properly the red, blue, and gold of the niched hood mould.
1856. Kane, Arctic Expl., I. ix. 102. Distance is very deceptive upon the ice, subduing its salient features.
