Definition of tame

The word "tame" has a fascinating history. It originated from the Old English word "tæmian," which means "to subdue" or "to tame." This Old English word is derived from the Proto-Germanic word "*taman," which is related to the Proto-Indo-European root "*tem-," meaning "to bind" or "to tame." In Old English, the word "tæmian" was used to describe the act of domesticating animals, such as horses or oxen, making them submissive to human control. Over time, the meaning of the word expanded to include the sense of making something or someone docile, manageable, or less wild. In the 14th century, the word "tame" emerged in Middle English, retaining its original sense of domestication. Today, the word is widely used in various contexts, including biology, psychology, and everyday language, to describe both the process of domesticating animals and the state of being controlled or subdued.