different between nonplussed vs subdued

English

Etymology

From an earlier verb form of nonplus, from Latin n?n pl?s (“no more, no further”), early 1600s. The etymological sense is similar to being left speechless as a result of confusion: the person can say or do "no more".

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /n?n?pl?st/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /n?n?pl?st/
• Rhymes: -?st

Adjective

nonplussed (comparative more nonplussed, superlative most nonplussed)

1. Bewildered; unsure how to respond or act. [from 17th c.]
   • 1724, Daniel Defoe, Roxana: The Fortunate Mistress:

     Note, the honest Quaker was nonplussed, and greatly surprised at that question.

   • 2000, Marcia Miller & Martin Lee, Vocabulary, Word of the Day

     "Dad was so nonplussed by the new VCR that he gave up and asked Mom to set it for him".

2. (proscribed, US, informal) Unfazed, unaffected, or unimpressed. [from 20th c.]

Usage notes

In recent North American English nonplussed has acquired the alternative meaning of "unimpressed". In 1999, this was considered a neologism, ostensibly from "not plussed", although "plussed" is itself a nonstandard word, seemingly a back-formation from nonplussed. The "unimpressed" meaning is proscribed as nonstandard by Ask Oxford.

Synonyms

• (bewildered): perplexed, vexed, thwarted, frustrated, foiled, confounded

Translations

Verb

nonplussed

1. simple past tense and past participle of nonplus

See also

• plussed (“not nonplussed”)

References

English

Alternative forms

• subdood

Pronunciation

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

Adjective

subdued (comparative more subdued, superlative most subdued)

1. Conquered; overpowered; crushed; submissive.
2. Not glaring in color; soft and light in tone.

Translations

Verb

subdued

1. simple past tense and past participle of subdue

   He subdued the dog yesterday.