tame: [OE] Tame evolved from a prehistoric Germanic *tamaz, which also produced German zahm and Dutch tam. This in turn was descended from the Indo-European base *dom-, which also lay behind Latin domāre ‘tame, subdue’ (source of English daunt [13] and indomitable [17]) and Greek damán ‘tame, subdue’ (source of English adamant and diamond). => adamant, daunt, diamond, indomitable
tame (adj.)
early Middle English tame "in a state of subjection, physically subdued, restrained in behavior" (c. 1200); of animals "domesticated, reclaimed from wildness," also, of persons, "meek, gentle-natured, compliant, intent on homely or domestic activities" (mid-13c.), from oblique forms of Old English tom, tam "domesticated, docile," from Proto-Germanic *tamaz (cognates: Old Norse tamr, Old Saxon, Old Frisian, Middle Low German, Middle Dutch tam, Old High German zam, German zahm "tame," Gothic tamjan "to tame"), from PIE *deme- "to constrain, to force, to break (horses)" (cognates: Sanskrit damayati "tames;" Persian dam "a tame animal;" Greek daman "to tame, subdue," dmetos "tame;" Latin domare "to tame, subdue;" Old Irish damnaim "I tie up, fasten, I tame, subdue").
A possible ulterior connection is with PIE *dem- "house, household" (see domestic (adj.)). Meaning "spiritless, weak, dull, uninspiring, insipid" is recorded from c. 1600. Related: Tamely; tameness.
tame (v.)
mid-14c., from tame (adj.), or altered by the form of the adjective from Old English temian "subdue, make tame," from Proto-Germanic *tamjan- (cognates: Old Norse temja, Old Frisian tema, Middle Dutch temmen, Old High German zemmen, German zähmen, Gothic tamjan). Related: Tamed; taming.
双语例句
1. Two regiments of cavalry were called out to tame the crowds.
调集了两个装甲兵团去威慑、控制人群。
来自柯林斯例句
2. Some of today's political demonstrations look rather tame.
如今有些政治游行显得毫无激情。
来自柯林斯例句
3. You'll find life here pretty tame after New York.
这里的生活相当枯燥，与纽约形成对比。
来自《权威词典》
4. The party was tame because all the people were sleepy.
