---
title: subdued — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «subdued» in the school dictionary: Subdued means quiet and a little sad or tired, not lively as usual: «You seem subdued today». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# subdued

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** You, Subdued light, She, He, team · **What happens:** subdue, mean, seem, be, bring, lose · **To what, where:** control, rebels, Tom, dog, class, restaurant · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«subdued» 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: [subdued in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/subdued.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Subdued means quiet and a little sad or tired, not lively as usual: «You seem subdued today».

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subdued:m1:1
# text = Subdued means quiet and a little sad or tired, not lively as usual: «You seem subdued today».
1	Subdued	subdue	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	quiet	quiet	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	obl:unmarked	_	_
7	sad	sad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	tired	tired	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
11	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	12	advmod	_	_
12	lively	lively	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	conj	_	_
13	as	as	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	usual	usual	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	18	punct	_	_
16	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	18	nsubj	_	_
18	seem	seem	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	parataxis	_	_
19	subdued	subdue	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	18	xcomp	_	_
20	today	today	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **subdue** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn subjugate-42.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  | quiet *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **seem** *in a quote* | present | You |  |  |  |  |  | vn seem-109-1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Theme clause=Attribute |
| 4 | **subdue** *in a quote* | participle | You *not said here* |  |  |  | today |  | vn subjugate-42.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .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 -->
Subdued light, colours or sounds are soft and gentle, not bright or loud.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subdued:m2:1
# text = Subdued light, colours or sounds are soft and gentle, not bright or loud.
1	Subdued	subdue	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	amod	_	_
2	light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	colours	colour	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	conj	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	sounds	sound	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	_
7	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	soft	soft	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	gentle	gentle	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
12	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	13	advmod	_	_
13	bright	bright	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	parataxis	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	loud	loud	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **subdue** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn subjugate-42.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present | Subdued light and colours or sounds |  |  |  |  | soft *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **be** |  | Subdued light and colours or sounds *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
As a verb form, subdued means brought under control: «The rebels were subdued».

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subdued:m3:1
# text = As a verb form, subdued means brought under control: «The rebels were subdued».
1	As	as	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	verb	verb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	form	form	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	subdued	subdue	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	csubj	_	_
7	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	brought	bring	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	ccomp	_	_
9	under	under	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	control	control	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	16	punct	_	_
12	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	rebels	rebel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	nsubj:pass	_	_
15	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	16	aux:pass	_	_
16	subdued	subdue	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **subdue** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | as a verb form | vn subjugate-42.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **bring** | participle |  |  |  | control |  |  | vn bring-11.3-1 «NP V NP together»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **subdue** *in a quote* | past · passive |  | the rebels |  |  |  |  | vn subjugate-42.3 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Tom was very subdued after his dog got lost.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subdued:x1:1
# text = Tom was very subdued after his dog got lost.
1	Tom	Tom	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
3	very	very	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	subdued	subdue	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	after	after	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
6	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj:pass	_	_
8	got	get	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux:pass	_	_
9	lost	lose	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **subdue** | past · passive |  | Tom |  |  |  |  | vn subjugate-42.3 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |
| 2 | **lose** | past · passive |  | Tom's dog |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Eventuality |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The class was subdued after the sad news.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subdued:x2:1
# text = The class was subdued after the sad news.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	subdued	subdue	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	after	after	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	sad	sad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	news	news	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **subdue** | past · passive |  | the class |  |  | after the sad news |  | vn subjugate-42.3 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The restaurant had subdued lighting.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subdued:x3:1
# text = The restaurant had subdued lighting.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	restaurant	restaurant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	subdued	subdue	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	lighting	lighting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **subdue** | past · perfect · passive |  | the restaurant |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She painted her bedroom in subdued colours.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subdued:x4:1
# text = She painted her bedroom in subdued colours.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	painted	paint	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	bedroom	bedroom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	subdued	subdue	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	amod	_	_
7	colours	colour	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **paint** | past | She | her bedroom |  | subdued colours |  |  | vn image\_impression-25.1 «NP V NP.theme PP.destination»: agent=Agent bedroom=Theme in colour=Destination |
| 2 | **subdue** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn subjugate-42.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He spoke in a subdued voice.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subdued:x5:1
# text = He spoke in a subdued voice.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	spoke	speak	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	subdued	subdue	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	amod	_	_
6	voice	voice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **speak** *speech: other* | past | He |  |  | a subdued voice |  |  | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **subdue** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn subjugate-42.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The rebellion was quickly subdued.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subdued:x6:1
# text = The rebellion was quickly subdued.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	rebellion	rebellion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
4	quickly	quickly	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	subdued	subdue	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **subdue** | past · passive |  | the rebellion |  |  |  | quickly *property* | vn subjugate-42.3 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The crowd was subdued after their team lost.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subdued:x7:1
# text = The crowd was subdued after their team lost.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	crowd	crowd	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	subdued	subdue	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	after	after	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
6	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	lost	lose	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **subdue** | past · passive |  | the crowd |  |  |  |  | vn subjugate-42.3 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |
| 2 | **lose** | past | their team |  |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He was full of resource and courage, and finally outwitted and subdued all his foes.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subdued:x8:1
# text = He was full of resource and courage, and finally outwitted and subdued all his foes.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	full	full	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	resource	resource	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	courage	courage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
10	finally	finally	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
11	outwitted	outwit	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
12	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	subdued	subdue	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	conj	_	_
14	all	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	16	det:predet	_	_
15	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	16	nmod:poss	_	_
16	foes	foe	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | He |  |  |  |  | of resource and courage; full *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **outwit** | past | He *not said here* |  |  |  |  | finally *property* | vn exceed-90 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot |
| 3 | **subdue** | past | He *not said here* | his foes |  |  |  |  | vn subjugate-42.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent foe=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 -->

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