tame

—tamely, adv. —tameness, n. —tamer, n.

/taym/, adj., tamer, tamest, v., tamed, taming.

adj.

1. changed from the wild or savage state; domesticated: a tame bear.

2. without the savageness or fear of humans normal in wild animals; gentle, fearless, or without shyness, as if domesticated: That lion acts as tame as a house cat.

3. tractable, docile, or submissive, as a person or the disposition.

4. lacking in excitement; dull; insipid: a very tame party.

5. spiritless or pusillanimous.

6. not to be taken very seriously; without real power or importance; serviceable but harmless: They kept a tame scientist around.

7. brought into service; rendered useful and manageable; under control, as natural resources or a source of power.

8. cultivated or improved by cultivation, as a plant or its fruit.

v.t.

9. to make tame; domesticate; make tractable.

10. to deprive of courage, ardor, or zest.

11. to deprive of interest, excitement, or attractiveness; make dull.

12. to soften; tone down.

13. to harness or control; render useful, as a source of power.

14. to cultivate, as land or plants.

v.i.

15. to become tame.

[bef. 900; (adj.) ME; OE tam; c. D tam, G zahm, ON tamr; (v.) ME tamen, deriv. of the adj.; r. ME temen to tame, OE temian, deriv. of tam; c. ON temja, Goth gatamjan; akin to L domare to tame]

Syn. 3. meek, subdued. 4. flat, empty, vapid, boring, tedious, uninteresting. 5. cowardly, dastardly. 9. break, subdue. 12. calm, mollify.

Ant. 1. wild.

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