Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • transitive verb To bring under control, especially by military force; conquer.
  • transitive verb To make subordinate or subject to the dominion of something else.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • To bring under the yoke; subdue; conquer; compel to submit to the dominion or control of another; vanquish.
  • To make subservient; take or hold captive; bring under bondage, as the senses.
  • Synonyms Vanquish, Subdue, etc. See conquer.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • transitive verb To subdue, and bring under the yoke of power or dominion; to conquer by force, and compel to submit to the government or absolute control of another; to vanquish.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb To forcibly impose obedience or servitude.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • verb put down by force or intimidation
  • verb make subservient; force to submit or subdue

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Middle English subjugaten, from Latin subiugāre, subiugāt- : sub-, sub- + iugum, yoke; see yeug- in Indo-European roots.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Latin subiugatus, past participle of subiugare ("to bring under the yoke, subugate"), from sub ("under") + iugum ("yoke"); see yoke.

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Examples

  • Never did yell or kick send his hot blood from heart to head deluging his sensitive brain with fiery currents, driving him into frenzy or blinding him with fear; but touches, soft and gentle as a woman's, caressing words, and oats given from the open palm, and unfailing kindness, were the means I used to 'subjugate' him.

    The Junior Classics — Volume 8 Animal and Nature Stories William Patten 1902

  • Now you are saying that your answer was only directed towards the "subjugate" part.

    Denver Post: News: Breaking: Local concerned in Denver 2010

  • "subjugate" in the debate over and over again, by people from people all along the political spectrum.

    Denver Post: News: Breaking: Local Yankee47 2010

  • "subjugate" in the debate over and over again, by people from people all along the political spectrum.

    Denver Post: News: Breaking: Local broadsquad 2010

  • In a sharply worded letter to DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano, Beckstrom complains of inadequate funding and cites efforts by the National Security Agency to "subjugate" the NCSC to its control. first obtained by Wired), Beckstrom writes that "NSA effectively controls DHS cyber efforts through detailees, technology insertions, and the proposed move of NPPD [

    Ars Technica 2009

  • Talking about how all jews are moneygrubbing thieves or how all muslims are violent with the intent to subjugate more dhimmis should not be protected speech.

    Matthew Yglesias » Free Speech 2009

  • Talking about how all jews are moneygrubbing thieves or how all muslims are violent with the intent to subjugate more dhimmis should not be protected speech.

    Matthew Yglesias » Free Speech 2009

  • Only the USA stoops so low as to use people's suffering for profit, denying them even elementary care unless they subjugate themselves under the yoke of insurance companies.

    'Why should the liberals always cave?' Dem asks 2009

  • Like the socialists, they do not mince matters, but state boldly and plainly that they are fighting to subjugate the opposing class.

    THE CLASS STRUGGLE 2010

  • And surely, no-one means to subjugate women by something as simple as language?

    Your sexist writing style isn’t professional, dude « Digital immigrant 2009

Comments

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  • the mere sound of this word is commanding, no?

    November 23, 2008