subordinate

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

Adjective and Noun

• (UK) enPR: sə-bôʹdĭn-ət, IPA^(key): /səˈbɔːdɪnət/
• (US) enPR: sə-bôrʹdĭn-ət, IPA^(key): /səˈbɔɹdɪnət/

  • Audio (US):

    (file)

• (General Australian) IPA^(key): /səˈboːdɪnət/

Verb

• (UK) enPR: sə-bôʹdĭn-āt, IPA^(key): /səˈbɔːdɪneɪt/

  • Audio (Southern England):

    (file)

• (US) enPR: sə-bôrʹdĭn-āt, IPA^(key): /səˈbɔɹdɪneɪt/
• (General Australian) IPA^(key): /səˈboːdɪnæɪt/

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[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.

Noun

subordinate (plural subordinates)

2. (countable) One who is subordinate.

   Synonyms: inferior, junior, report, subaltern, underling, understrapper

   Antonyms: boss, commander, leader, manager, superior, superordinate, supervisor

3. A hyponym.

   Antonyms: hypernym, hyperonym, superordinate

Verb

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

1. (transitive) To make subservient or secondary.
   1. (transitive, grammar) To embed (a clause) into another clause that is the main one.

      Hypernym: complementize

      Coordinate term: coordinate

   2. (transitive, finance) To make of lower priority in order of payment in bankruptcy.
2. (transitive) To treat (someone) as of less value or importance.

   Synonyms: belittle, denigrate

See also

• inferior

Anagrams

• turbinadoes

Etymology 1

Etymology 2

Pronunciation

• (Classical Latin) IPA^(key): /su.boːr.diˈnaː.te/, [s̠ʊboːrd̪ɪˈnäːt̪ɛ]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /su.bor.diˈna.te/, [subord̪iˈnäːt̪e]

Verb

subōrdināte

1. second-person plural present active imperative of subōrdinō

Verb

subordinate

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