subordinate

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to navigation Jump to search

English

[edit]

Etymology

[edit]

From Middle English subordinat, from Medieval Latin subōrdinātus, past participle of subōrdināre, from sub- + ōrdināre (to order).

Pronunciation

[edit]
Adjective and Noun
Verb

Adjective

[edit]

subordinate (comparative more subordinate, superlative most subordinate)

  1. Placed in a lower class, rank, or position.
    • 1695, John Woodward, “(please specify the page)”, in An Essay toward a Natural History of the Earth: And Terrestrial Bodies, Especially Minerals: [], London: [] Ric[hard] Wilkin [], →OCLC:
      The several kinds [] and subordinate species of each are easily known.
    Synonyms: lesser, subaltern
    Antonyms: superior, superordinate
  2. Submissive or inferior to, or controlled by authority.
    • November 9, 1662, Robert South, Of the Creation of Man in the Image of God
      It was subordinate, not enslaved, to the understanding.
    Antonym: insubordinate
  3. (grammar, of a clause, not comparable) dependent on and either modifying or complementing the main clause
    In the sentence “The barbecue finished before John arrived”, the subordinate clause “before John arrived” specifies the time of the main clause, “The barbecue finished”.
    Synonym: dependent
    Antonyms: independent, main
  4. Descending in a regular series.

Derived terms

[edit]

Translations

[edit]

Noun

[edit]

subordinate (plural subordinates)

  1. (countable) One who is subordinate.
    Synonyms: inferior, junior, report, subaltern, underling, understrapper
    Antonyms: boss, commander, leader, manager, superior, superordinate, supervisor
  2. A hyponym.
    Antonyms: hypernym, hyperonym, superordinate

Translations

[edit]

Verb

[edit]

subordinate (third-person singular simple present subordinates, present participle subordinating, simple past and past participle subordinated)

  1. (transitive) To make subservient.
  2. (transitive) To treat as of less value or importance.
    Synonyms: belittle, denigrate
  3. (transitive, finance) To make of lower priority in order of payment in bankruptcy.

Translations

[edit]

See also

[edit]

Anagrams

[edit]

Italian

[edit]

Etymology 1

[edit]

Adjective

[edit]

subordinate

  1. feminine plural of subordinato

Participle

[edit]

subordinate f pl

  1. feminine plural of subordinato

Etymology 2

[edit]

Verb

[edit]

subordinate

  1. inflection of subordinare:
    1. second-person plural present indicative
    2. second-person plural imperative

Latin

[edit]

Pronunciation

[edit]

Verb

[edit]

subōrdināte

  1. second-person plural present active imperative of subōrdinō

Spanish

[edit]

Verb

[edit]

subordinate

  1. second-person singular voseo imperative of subordinar combined with te