different between subdue vs muffle

English

Etymology

From Middle English subdewen, subduen, sodewen, from Old French souduire, from Latin subd?c? (“to draw away”), perhaps influenced by subd? (“to subdue, subject”).

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /s?b?du/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /s?b?dju?/, /s?b?d?u?/, /s?b-/
• Rhymes: -u?
• Hyphenation: sub?due

Verb

subdue (third-person singular simple present subdues, present participle subduing, simple past and past participle subdued)

1. To overcome, quieten, or bring under control.
2. To bring (a country) under control by force.

Synonyms

• underbring

Related terms

Translations

English

Etymology

From Middle English muflen (“to muffle”), aphetic alteration of Anglo-Norman amoufler, from Old French enmoufler (“to wrap up, muffle”), from moufle (“mitten”), from Medieval Latin muffula (“a muff”), of Germanic origin (—first recorded in the Capitulary of Aachen in 817 C.E.), from Frankish *muffël (“a muff, wrap, envelope”) from *mauwa (“sleeve, wrap”) (from Proto-Germanic *maww? (“sleeve”)) + *vël (“skin, hide”) (from Proto-Germanic *fell? (“skin, film, fleece”). Alternate etymology traces the Medieval Latin word to Frankish *molfell (“soft garment made of hide”) from *mol (“softened, forworn”) (akin to Old High German molaw?n (“to soften”), Middle High German molwic (“soft”), English mulch) + *fell (“hide, skin”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /m?fl?/
• Rhymes: -?f?l

Noun

muffle (plural muffles)

1. Anything that mutes or deadens sound.
2. A warm piece of clothing for the hands.
3. (slang, archaic) A boxing glove.
4. A kiln or furnace, often electric, with no direct flames (a muffle furnace)
5. The bare end of the nose between the nostrils, especially in ruminants.
6. A machine with two pulleys to hoist load by spinning wheels, polyspast, block and tackle.

Translations

Verb

muffle (third-person singular simple present muffles, present participle muffling, simple past and past participle muffled)

1. (transitive) To wrap (a person, face etc.) in fabric or another covering, for warmth or protection; often with up.

   • The face lies muffled up within the garment.

   • He muffled with a cloud his mournful eyes.

   • 1712, John Arbuthnot, The History of John Bull

     muffled up in darkness and superstition

2. (transitive) To wrap up or cover (a source of noise) in order to deaden the sound.

   to muffle the strings of a drum, or that part of an oar which rests in the rowlock

3. (transitive) To mute or deaden (a sound etc.).
   • 1999, George RR Martin, A Clash of Kings, Bantam 2011, p. 397:

     The singer's voice was muffled by the thick walls, yet Tyrion knew the verse.

4. (intransitive, dated) To speak indistinctly, or without clear articulation.
5. (transitive, dated) To prevent seeing, or hearing, or speaking, by wraps bound about the head; to blindfold; to deafen.

Translations