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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Subdew, v. Also: subdewe, -deu, -dieu, -due. P.p. also subduet, -duwit, subdew. [ME sodew, sudew (both Trevisa), late ME and e.m.E. subdew (Lydgate), subdewe (c1449), subdue (c1460), OF soduire (1112 in Greimas), L. subdūcere.]Chiefly past participle.

1. To conquer by force of arms and reduce to subjection.(1) c1515 Asl. MS I 247/7.
Scottis and Pictis … was nevir subdewit 1531 Bell. Boece I iv.
How thai wer subdewit, and thair realme maid tributar in forme of province 1535 Stewart 38312.
Thus war tha … Subdewit … in sic vile seruitude 1596 Dalr. I 113/27.
The Romanis quhen sum natione thay had subduet, to sum thay gaue lande [etc.] a1639 Spotsw. Hist. (1655) 23.
Athelstane … having … inlarged his Kingdome by subduing the Northumbers 1646 Old Ross-shire II 14.
If they subdewe or beatt us, you will all have the more adoe c1650 Spalding I 5.
He could not get thame overcum and subdewit without ane livetennandrie in the Northe(2) c1515 Asl. MS I 246/7.
He subdewit Irland and regnit lang 1533 Boece 162.
Sen thai mycht nocht subdewe the hail ile a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1825) 39.
A sufficient armie to have subdewit the provinces of Mernis, Angus and Fyff(3) 1562-3 Winȝet II 5/3.
Our new citie of Jerusalem suld be sa strang … that … infidelis, hæretikis and schismatikis suld nocht … subdew it 1562-3 Winȝet II 21/25.
For quhen the prophane nouatioun of the Arrianis … the Emperour … first being maid captiue, had subdewit … al the hie turretis of the palice be new lawis

b. Const. to (on to, unto), till (the conqueror, his power, etc.). Also fig.(1) c1510 Prester John 310.
Kyngis … quhylkys ar nocht ȝit cristinit bot subdewit till ws 1535 Stewart 22788.
Pairt be force, and far mair be fre will, Ȝour celsitude [we] war subdewit till 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 330.
He wald not be subdewit to the erle of Ergyle 1596 Dalr. I 150/10.
The Scottis natione … quhilke hithirto had beine frie and vnuiolat, nathir evir subduet till ony framet natione(2) 1531 Bell. Boece I 97.
Knawing weil, how Romanis … subdewis unprudent kingis to thair dominion 1546 Lynd. Trag. Card. 158.
Purposyng for tyll haue hym haistelie Subdewit on to my correctioun 1549 Compl. 90/20.
Ȝour ald enemes hes intendit to conqueis & to subdieu ȝou to there dominione 1560 Rolland Seven S. 11.
Triumphand far abone thair enemeis, Subdewand thame to lestand seruitude a1578 Pitsc. I 138/31.
The Turkis … creipis in daylie mair and mair in Wrope … [and] haue subdewit ane great pairt thairof to thair dominioun and impyre 1596 Dalr. I 164/29.
Doubteles hail Albion to the Romane impire he had subduet 1596 Dalr. II 23/14.
To passe … to the haly land, to subdue … that cuntrie to the christen impyrefig. a1585 Maitl. Q. 204/94.
This warld is bot ane vaill most miserabill To dolent deith subdew with bitter schouris

2. To bring (a person, etc.) into mental or spiritual subjection; to render submissive (to oneself or another).Also with inanimate subject and in fig. context.(1) a1578 Pitsc. I 263/30.
Ane feminnat prince subdewit and intyssit be the allurment … of this wickit woman c1590 Fowler I 69/58.
And that my dame, by him subdewed, I might my marrow see a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xxvi 36.
Quhat force is this, subdeuing all and sum?(2) 1513 Doug. x Prol. 118.
Thou … Subdewit to him [sc. Man] the erth and all tharin 1562-3 Winȝet I 50/16.
Fra I persauit this new proud prince and his Caluiniane brethir … to hef subdewit sa to thame, wnder sik thirldum thair miserable scoleris 1562-3 Winȝet I 122/2.
Except ȝe will euiry lady in the land to be subdeuit to hir awin cuik or horsboy a1568 Maitland Bann. MS 14a/176.
God did prefer thé to this day And thame subdewid to thé

b. With a person's attributes, emotions, desires, etc. as object. c1520-c1535 Nisbet Rom. ii 6 marg.
The fleische nother is nor cann be subdewit tharto 1562-3 Winȝet I 94/16.
Al iust man … quha subdeuis his concupiscence and lustis to the diuine law is a victorious king 1567 G. Ball. 79.
For till subdew The flesche, the outward man I meine c1590 Fowler I 248/5.
Your gracious grace, that dois my hart subdew

c. To subject (a person) to (unto) or cause to be ruled by (some state of affairs, quality, virtue or vice). Chiefly p.p. 1551 Hamilton Cat. 48.
Thai ar nocht subdewit to the rychteousnes c1552 Lynd. Mon. 5951.
We neuer saw thyne excellence Subdewit to sic indigence 1559 Corr. M. Lorraine 424.
My lord … Quham I fynd greitly subjeckit and subdewit to the new band that he hes laitly mellit with 1561 Crim. Trials I i 415.
And forder is subdewit to ane malancolius hvmour, naturallie descendand from his progenitouris 1562-3 Winȝet I 109/17.
St. Paull techis that a woman is subdewit to the law sa lang as hir husband leuis 1562-3 Winȝet I 133/15.
Godly wisdum may nocht dwell in the bodyis of thame quha or subdewit to sin 1567 G. Ball. 30.
That the faithfull must the croce indure, Witnes beiris all creature, Subdewit vnto vanitie a1568 Bann. Bann. MS I p. 4/100.
Subdewand him to our mortalite Thocht he was equall in diuinite

3. To subject (lands) to the control of, to grant to (a person or persons). Only p.p. 1521 Aberd. B. Rec. I xxxv.
The grit damnag … doune … to dyverse … nychtbouris of the said burgh and to the lands subdewit to thair commvnity … be … Lord Forbes and his complessis

4. In music: ? Of the relationship of subsequent (? imperfect) notes to perfect notes: ? Subjected to a rule. c1550-c1580 Art of Music 11b.
Ewerray ane [sc. sign] dois be takin [sic] perfection of nottis quhilkis onder tham ar subdewit c1550-c1580 Art of Music 19b.
This tabill resolutory of perfyt figuris with color noittit to the lectoris we have subdueit c1550-c1580 Art of Music 23b.
The thrid rewill alteration to noittis nocht perfyt dois nocht cum bot quhen thay salbe the propinque partis of perfyt figuris, thay sall noucht to alteration be subduwit