---
title: subdue — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «subdue» in the school dictionary: To subdue is to get control over a person, group or country, usually by force: «The army subdued the rebels». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/subdue/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [S](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/) / subdue

# subdue

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** army, your, Romans, Police officers, man, She · **What happens:** subdue, be, hold back, excite, shout, try · **To what, where:** rebels, feeling, excitement, light, many tribes, Britain · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«subdue» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 8 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [subdue in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/subdue.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To subdue is to get control over a person, group or country, usually by force: «The army subdued the rebels».

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subdue:m1:1
# text = To subdue is to get control over a person, group or country, usually by force: «The army subdued the rebels».
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	subdue	subdue	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	csubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	control	control	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
7	over	over	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
11	group	group	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	country	country	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
15	usually	usually	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
16	by	by	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	force	force	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	22	punct	_	_
19	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	22	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	army	army	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	nsubj	_	_
22	subdued	subdue	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	_
23	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	24	det	_	_
24	rebels	rebel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	22	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	22	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **subdue** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn subjugate-42.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | over a person and group or country; get *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **subdue** *in a quote* | past | the army | the rebels |  |  |  |  | vn subjugate-42.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent rebel=Patient |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To subdue a feeling is to calm it or hold it back, like subduing your excitement or anger.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subdue:m2:1
# text = To subdue a feeling is to calm it or hold it back, like subduing your excitement or anger.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	subdue	subdue	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	advcl	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	feeling	feeling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	calm	calm	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	hold	hold	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	7	conj	_	_
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obj	_	_
12	back	back	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
14	like	like	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
15	subduing	subdue	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	10	advcl	_	_
16	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	17	nmod:poss	_	_
17	excitement	excitement	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obj	_	_
18	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
19	anger	anger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **subdue** | to-infinitive |  | a feeling |  |  |  |  | vn subjugate-42.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent feeling=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | calm *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **hold back** | infinitive |  | feeling |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Theme |
| 4 | **subdue** | gerund |  | your excitement or anger |  |  |  |  | vn subjugate-42.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent excitement=Patient |
| 5 | **excite** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom excitement «feeling transitive»: poss=agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To subdue light, colour or sound is to make it softer or quieter.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subdue:m3:1
# text = To subdue light, colour or sound is to make it softer or quieter.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	subdue	subdue	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	advcl	_	_
3	light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	colour	colour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	make	make	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obj	_	_
12	softer	soft	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	10	xcomp	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	quieter	quiet	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **subdue** | to-infinitive |  | light and colour or sound |  |  |  |  | vn subjugate-42.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent light=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | make, soft *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Romans subdued many tribes in Britain.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subdue:x1:1
# text = The Romans subdued many tribes in Britain.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Romans	Roman	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	subdued	subdue	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	tribes	tribe	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	Britain	Britain	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **subdue** | past | the Romans | many tribes |  | Britain |  |  | vn subjugate-42.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tribe=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Police officers subdued the man who was shouting.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subdue:x2:1
# text = Police officers subdued the man who was shouting.
1	Police	police	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	compound	_	_
2	officers	officer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	subdued	subdue	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
7	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
8	shouting	shout	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **subdue** | past | Police officers | the man |  |  |  |  | vn subjugate-42.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent man=Patient |
| 2 | **shout** *speech: express* | past · progressive | the man |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She tried to subdue her giggles in assembly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subdue:x3:1
# text = She tried to subdue her giggles in assembly.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	tried	try	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	subdue	subdue	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	giggles	giggle	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	assembly	assembly	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **try** | past | She |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **subdue** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | She *not said here* | her giggles |  | assembly |  |  | vn subjugate-42.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent giggle=Patient |
| 3 | **giggle** |  | her *= she* |  |  |  |  |  | nom giggle «communication intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Firefighters worked all night to subdue the flames.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subdue:x4:1
# text = Firefighters worked all night to subdue the flames.
1	Firefighters	firefighter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	worked	work	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	4	det	_	_
4	night	night	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl:unmarked	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	subdue	subdue	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	flames	flame	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **work** | past | Firefighters |  |  |  | night |  | vn employment-95.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **subdue** | to-infinitive | Firefighters *not said here* | the flames |  |  |  |  | vn subjugate-42.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent flame=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The knight subdued the dragon in the end.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subdue:x5:1
# text = The knight subdued the dragon in the end.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	knight	knight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	subdued	subdue	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	dragon	dragon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	end	end	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **subdue** | past | the knight | the dragon |  |  | in the end |  | vn subjugate-42.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent dragon=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dimmer lights subdued the bright room.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subdue:x6:1
# text = Dimmer lights subdued the bright room.
1	Dimmer	dimmer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	lights	light	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	subdued	subdue	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	bright	bright	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	room	room	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **subdue** | past | Dimmer lights | the bright room |  |  |  |  | vn subjugate-42.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent room=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It took the vet two helpers to subdue the frightened horse.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subdue:x7:1
# text = It took the vet two helpers to subdue the frightened horse.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	took	take	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	vet	vet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	helpers	helper	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	subdue	subdue	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	frightened	frightened	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	horse	horse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | past | It | the vet |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP ADVP»: agent=Instrument vet=Theme helper=Destination |
| 2 | **subdue** | to-infinitive |  | the frightened horse |  |  |  |  | vn subjugate-42.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent horse=Patient |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
When we are not at peace amongst ourselves it is no easy thing to subdue an enemy.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subdue:x8:1
# text = When we are not at peace amongst ourselves it is no easy thing to subdue an enemy.
1	When	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	6	mark	_	_
2	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	6	advmod	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	peace	peace	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	_
7	amongst	amongst	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	ourselves	ourselves	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	6	nmod	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
10	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
11	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	13	det	_	_
12	easy	easy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
14	to	to	PART	TO	_	15	mark	_	_
15	subdue	subdue	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	acl	_	_
16	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	enemy	enemy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	13	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **is** | present | we |  |  | peace |  | amongst ourselves | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | present | peace | no easy thing |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **subdue** | to-infinitive |  | a enemy |  |  |  |  | vn subjugate-42.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent enemy=Patient |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

<!-- pn -->
- ← previous: [subduction](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/subduction/)
- next →: [subdued](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/subdued/)
- ↑ back to [S in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/)