[sub.due] vt sub.dued ; sub.du.ing [ME sodewen, subduen (influenced in form and meaning by L subdere to subject), fr. MF soduire to seduce (influenced in meaning by L seducere to seduce), fr. L subducere] (14c) 1: to conquer and bring into subjection: vanquish
2: to bring under control esp. by an exertion of the will: curb "subdued my foolish fears"
3: to bring under cultivation
4: to reduce the intensity or degree of: tone down syn see conquer -- sub.du.er n