to reduce the intensity or degree of (e.g. light or colour)
to bring (a feeling) under control
His words subdued her fears
to conquer and bring (e.g. a people) into subjection
archaic to bring (land) under cultivation
subduable adj
subduer noun
[Middle English sodewen, subduen, via early French soduire to seduce, from Latin subducere, literally ‘to draw from below’, from sub- + ducere to lead]