SUBDUE

transitive verb (~d; subduing) Etymology: Middle English sodewen, ~n, from Anglo-French soduire, subdure to lead astray, overcome, arrest (influenced in form and meaning by Latin subdere to subject), from Latin subducere to withdraw, remove stealthily Date: 14th century to conquer and bring into subjection ; vanquish , to bring under control especially by an exertion of the will ; curb , to bring (land) under cultivation, to reduce the intensity or degree of ; tone down, see: conquer ~r noun