Literary notes about Subdue (AI summary)
In literature, the term "subdue" serves as a versatile verb that conveys both physical domination and the taming of emotions or abstract forces. It appears in contexts ranging from military conquests—such as an army coming to subdue a countess's territory [1] or empires striving to subdue foreign lands [2]—to the internal struggle of controlling one's passions and pride [3], [4]. Authors employ it to describe not only the overpowering of natural forces [5] but also to illustrate the process of self-mastery and the nuanced interplay between power and vulnerability in human character [6], [7].
- “The Earl,” said she, “whom I mentioned to thee, has come before the Castle, with a numerous army, to subdue the Countess.”
— from The Mabinogion - Yet by my arm has the Almighty been pleased to subdue the kingdoms of Iran, Touran, and the Indies.
— from The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon - Here St. Paul shews the necessity of self-denial and mortification, to subdue the flesh, and its inordinate desires. 1 Corinthians Chapter 10
— from The Bible, Douay-Rheims, Complete - ‘How will he greet me, I wonder?’ said my bounding heart; and, instead of advancing to meet him, I turned to the window to hide or subdue my emotion.
— from The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë - Men may subdue men--they cannot overcome the elements.
— from Twenty years after by Alexandre Dumas and Auguste Maquet - He held out his hand and shook hands, still apparently making desperate efforts to subdue his mirth and utter a few words to introduce himself.
— from Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky - It may be stated here that Tennessee had a fine flow of humor, which no business preoccupation could wholly subdue.
— from The Luck of Roaring Camp and Other Tales by Bret Harte
