subordinate

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English

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

Adjective and Noun
Verb

Adjective

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 Wilkin , →OCLC:
      The several kinds [] and subordinate species of each are easily known.
    Synonym: lesser
    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

Translations

Noun

subordinate (plural subordinates)

  1. (countable) One who is subordinate.
    Synonyms: inferior, junior, report, underling, understrapper
    Antonyms: boss, commander, leader, manager, superior, supervisor

Translations

Verb

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

See also

Anagrams

Italian

Etymology 1

Adjective

subordinate

  1. feminine plural of subordinato

Participle

subordinate f pl

  1. feminine plural of subordinato

Etymology 2

Verb

subordinate

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

Latin

Pronunciation

Verb

subōrdināte

  1. second-person plural present active imperative of subōrdinō

Spanish

Verb

subordinate

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