Tame, v. t. [imp. & p. p.
Tamed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Taming.] [AS.
tamian, temian, akin to D. tammen, temmen, G.
zähmen, OHG. zemmen, Icel. temja, Goth.
gatamjan. See Tame, a.] 1.
To reduce from a wild to a domestic state; to make gentle and
familiar; to reclaim; to domesticate; as, to tame a wild
beast.
They had not been tamed into submission, but baited
into savegeness and stubbornness.
Macaulay.
2. To subdue; to conquer; to repress; as, to
tame the pride or passions of youth.
Tame, a. [Compar.
Tamer (?); superl. Tamest.] [AS.
tam; akin to D. tam, G. zahm, OHG. zam, Dan. &
Sw. tam, Icel. tamr, L. domare to tame, Gr. ?, Skr.
dam to be tame, to tame, and perhaps to E. beteem. √61.
Cf. Adamant, Diamond, Dame, Daunt,
Indomitable.] 1. Reduced from a state of native
wildness and shyness; accustomed to man; domesticated; domestic; as, a
tame deer, a tame bird.
2. Crushed; subdued; depressed;
spiritless.
Tame slaves of the laborious plow.
Roscommon.
3. Deficient in spirit or animation; spiritless;
dull; flat; insipid; as, a tame poem; tame scenery.
Syn. -- Gentle; mild; meek. See Gentle.
Tame (?), v. t. [Cf. F. entamer to cut
into, to broach.] To broach or enter upon; to taste, as a liquor; to
divide; to distribute; to deal out. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]
In the time of famine he is the Joseph of the country, and
keeps the poor from starving. Then he tameth his stacks of corn,
which not his covetousness, but providence, hath reserved for time of
need.
Fuller.