Etymology dictionary
subdue (v.) — substantive (adj.)
subdue (v.)
late 14c., subduen, "to conquer (an army, a people, a land) and reduce to subjection," from Old French souduire (but this meant "deceive, seduce"), from Latin subducere "draw away, lead away, carry off; withdraw" (see subduce; also compare subduct).
The primary sense in English seems to have been taken in Anglo-French from Latin subdere "place, set, or lay under; bring under, subject, subdue," and attached to this word. Related: Subdued; subduing.
The meaning "bring (a person) to mental or spiritual subjection, prevail over, render submissive" is from c. 1500.
As an associated noun, subdual is attested from 1670s as "act of subduing" (subduction having acquired other senses).
subdued (adj.)
c. 1600, "subjugated, rendered submissive," past-participle adjective from subdue. The meaning "calmed down, reduced in intensity," of color, sound, etc., is by 1822 (implied in Coleridge's subduedness).
subduce (v.)
mid-15c., subducen, "delete;" 1540s, "withdraw oneself" (from a place, allegiance, etc.), from Latin subducere "draw away, withdraw, remove," from sub "under, below" (see sub-) + ducere "to lead" (from PIE root *deuk- "to lead"). Related: Subduced; subducing.
subduction (n.)
early 15c., subducioun, "withdrawal, removal, action of taking away" (originally of noxious substances from the body), from Latin subductionem (nominative subductio) "a withdrawal, drawing up, hauling ashore," noun of action from past-participle stem of subducere "to draw away, take away" (see subduce).
From 1660s as "act of subduing; fact of being subdued." The geological sense, in reference to the edge of a plate dipping under a neighboring plate, is attested by 1970, from French (1951).
subduct (v.)
1570s, "subtract," from Latin subductus, past participle of subducere "to draw away, take away" (see subduce). Geological sense is from 1971, of a plate, "to move under another," a back-formation from subduction. Related: Subducted; subducting.
subfamily (n.)
also sub-family, 1833, in natural history, "first subdivision of a family," from sub- + family.
subfusc (adj.)
"moderately dark, brownish, of a dusky and somber hue," 1710 (used as a noun), from Latin subfuscus, suffuscus, from sub "close to" or "partial" (see sub-) + fuscus "dark, dusky" (see obfuscate). Related: Subfuscous "dusky."
Latin used sub- to form many adjectives of color (subalbidus, subviridis) and many of these were carried into Middle English (subrubicund "somewhat red;" subcitrin "pale yellow, yellowish," subpale "very pale;" subnigre "somewhat black, blackish," subrufe "pale red," etc.). All are obsolete; this word seems to have survived in the universities.
subgiant (n.)
also sub-giant, in astronomy, in reference to stars above the H-R diagram's "main sequence" but less luminous than a typical giant star of the same spectral class; 1937, from sub- "smaller" + giant (n.).
subgroup (n.)
also sub-group, "subordinate group in classification; subdivision of a group," 1825, from sub- + group (n.).
subhead (n.)
also sub-head, "smaller, subordinate heading or title in a book, chapter, newspaper, etc.," 1875, from sub- + head (n.) in the sense of "heading, headline." From 1580s as "subordinate official in a school." The general meaning "subordinate section or division" of a subject is from 1670s.
subhuman (adj.)
also sub-human, 1790, "not quite human, less than human, next below human," from sub- + human (adj.). The noun is attested by 1957.
subitize (v.)
also subitise, 1949, coined in an article in American Journal of Psychology, which describes it as "the discrimination of stimulus-numbers of 6 and below" and credits the suggestion of the word to Dr. Cornelia C. Coulter, the Department of Classical Languages and Literature, Mount Holyoke College. It is -ize + Latin subitus, past participle of subire "come or go stealthily" (see sudden).
subjacent (adj.)
"lying below, situated underneath," 1590s, from Latin subiacentem (nominative subiacens) "lying beneath," present participle of subiacere "to lie underneath, lie near, adjoin," from sub "under," also "close to" (see sub-) + iacere "to throw" (from PIE root *ye- "to throw, impel"). It can mean "being in a lower position without being directly beneath."
subject (v.)
late 14c., subjecten, "make (a person or nation) subject to another by force," also "render submissive or dependent," from Medieval Latin subiectare "place beneath," frequentative of Latin subicere "make subject, to subordinate" (see subject (n.)).
The meaning "lay open or expose" to some force or occurrence is by early 15c. (implied in subjected). Related: Subjecting.
subjectivity (n.)
1803, "absence of objective reality," from subjective + -ity. Popularized in Kantian terminology; compare French subjectivité, German subjektivität. It is attested by 1854 in the more general sense of "quality of existing in the mind only; the viewing of things through the private and limited element of self."
subjective (adj.)
c. 1500, "characteristic of one who is submissive or obedient," from Late Latin subiectivus "of the subject, subjective," from subiectus "lying under, below, near bordering on," figuratively "subjected, subdued"(see subject (n.)).
In early Modern English "relating to or of the nature of a subject as opposed to an object," hence "existing, real" (which was the common later meaning of objective (adj.)).
The more restricted meaning "existing in the mind" (the mind considered as "the thinking subject") is attested from 1707 and was popularized by Kant and his contemporaries. Thus, in art and literature, "personal, idiosyncratic, characterized by prominence given to individual mental operations" (1767). Related: Subjectively (mid-15c. in philosophy); subjectiveness.
subject (adj.)
early 14c., subget, "obedient, submissive, compliant;" late 14c., "subjugated, being under the power or dominion of another; enslaved; obliged to give allegiance," from Old French suget, subget, subject (Anglo-French suget, sugette; Modern French sujet), from Latin subiectus "lying underneath; subjected, subdued" (see subject (n.)).
Forms in -j- are occasional in Middle English. Also from late 14c. as "under the jurisdiction of" (a county, city, etc.). Also late 14c. in philosophy, "receptive to imposition of form," as in subject matter "that upon which an agent works." A literal sense of "placed or situated under or beneath" is attested from early 15c. in English but is archaic.
subject (n.)
early 14c., subget, "person under control or dominion of another," especially one who owes allegiance to a government or ruler; from Old French sogit, suget, subget "a subject person or thing" (12c., Modern French sujet), from noun use of Latin subiectus "lying under, below, near bordering on," figuratively "subjected, subdued," past participle of subicere, subiicere "to place under, throw under, bind under; to make subject, subordinate," from sub "under" (from PIE root *upo "under") + combining form of iacere "to throw" (from PIE root *ye- "to throw, impel").
In 14c., sugges, sogetis, subgit, sugette; the form was re-Latinized in English 16c. The general meaning "person or thing regarded as recipient of action, one that may be acted upon" is from 1590s.
The grammatical sense "nominative of a verb" is recorded from 1630s, from Latin subjectum "grammatical subject," noun use of the neuter of the Latin past participle.
Likewise some restricted uses in logic and philosophy are borrowed directly from Latin subjectum as "foundation or subject of a proposition," a loan-translation of Aristotle's to hypokeimenon. In logic, "that about which a judgment is made, that term of a proposition of which the other is affirmed or denied" (1550s).
The meaning "subject matter of an art or science" is attested from 1540s, probably short for subject matter (late 14c.), which is from Medieval Latin subjecta materia, a loan translation of Greek hypokeimene hylē (Aristotle), literally "that which lies beneath."
By 1580s as "theme of a literary composition." By 1833 as "person present for medical or surgical treatment."
subjection (n.)
late 14c., subjeccioun, "obedience, submission; servitude, bondage, state of being under the dominion of another; act of subjecting or subduing;" from Anglo-French subjectioun, Old French subjection "submission; subjugation; inferior condition; captivity" (12c., Modern French sujétion), from Latin subjectionem (nominative subjectio) "a putting under," noun of action from past-participle stem of subicere (see subject (n.)).
subjectification (n.)
1880, noun of action from subjectify "make subjective."
subjectify (v.)
1858, "identify with the subject," from subject (n.) in philosophical sense + -ify. Related: Subjectified; subjectifying. Subjectivize is by 1868 as "render subject, bring into the perceptive mind."
subjectivism (n.)
1845, in philosophy and theology, "the doctrine that we can immediately know only only what is present to the consciousness," thus the view that no knowledge can be proven to be absolute, that all is subjective and relative. See subjective + -ism. The word is recorded earlier in German (and Swedish). It also is sometimes extended to what is properly relativism. Related: Subjectivist.
subjoin (v.)
"add to the end of" (transitive), 1570s, from French subjoin-, past-participle stem of subjoindre (Old French), from Latin subiungere "to append, add at the end, place under," from sub "under" (see sub-) + iungere "to join together" (from nasalized form of PIE root *yeug- "to join"). Related: Subjoined; subjoining; subjoinder.
sub judice
"before a judge," Latin, literally "under a judge," from sub "under" (see sub-) + ablative singular of iudex "judge," from iudicare "to judge" (see judge (v.)). "Under judicial consideration," hence "not yet decided."
subjugation (n.)
late 14c., subjugacion, "position of something under someone," from Late Latin subiugationem (nominative subiugatio), noun of action from past-participle stem of Latin subiugare "to subdue," literally "bring under the yoke," from sub "under" (see sub-) + iugum "yoke" (from PIE root *yeug- "to join").
By mid-15c. as "act of subjugating, conquest;" 1650s as "condition of being subjugated."
subjugal (adj.)
"owing obedience, subject," from Latin subiugalis, "accustomed to the yoke," from subiugare "bring under the yoke" (also figurative; see subjugate (v.)). In modern use, "situated below the jugal bone."
subjugable (adj.)
"capable of being subdued, conquered, or brought under cultivation," 1850, from the stem of Latin subiugare "to subdue" (see subjugation) + -able.
subjugator (n.)
"a conqueror," 1795, agent noun in Latin form from subjugate, or else from Late Latin subjugator.
subjugate (v.)
early 15c., subjugaten, "conquer (a country), subdue," a back-formation from subjugation or else from Latin subiugatus, past participle of subiugare "to subjugate, subdue," literally "bring under the yoke," from sub "under" (see sub-) + iugum "yoke" (from PIE root *yeug- "to join"). Related: Subjugated; subjugating.
subjunctive (n.)
in grammar, "the mood of a verb employed to denote an action or state as conceived and not as a fact," 1620s, from an earlier adjective subjunctive (1520s). This is from Late Latin subiunctivus "serving to join, connecting," from subiunct-, past-participle stem of Latin subiungere "append, add at the end, place under," from sub "under" (see sub-) + iungere "to join together" (from PIE root *yeug- "to join").
The Latin modus subiunctivus probably is a loan-translation by Roman grammarians of Greek hypotaktikē enklisis "subordinated," so called because the Greek subjunctive mood is used almost exclusively in subordinate or subjoined clauses. This is generally true in English as well ("If that be, then we cannot want").
sublease (n.)
also sub-lease, "an under-lease, a lease granted by one himself a tenant," 1826, from sub- + lease (n.). As a verb from 1830s. Related: Subleased; subleasing; sublessor; sublessee.
sublet (v.)
also sub-let, "underlet, let to another person (by one himself a lessee or tenant)," 1766, from sub- + let (v.).
sublime (adj.)
1580s, of language, style, etc., "expressing lofty ideas in an elevated manner," from French sublime (15c.), or directly from Latin sublimis "uplifted, high, borne aloft, lofty, exalted, eminent, distinguished," possibly originally "sloping up to the lintel," from sub "up to" (see sub-) + limen "lintel, threshold, sill" (see limit (n.)).
Of ideas, subjects, "striking the mind with a sense of grandeur or power," 1630s. Of persons, "high in excellence, exalted by lofty or noble traits," 1640s; of things in nature or art, by 1700. The sublime (n.) "the sublime part of anything, that which is stately or imposing" is from 1670s. It also was a verb in alchemy in Middle English (late 14c.).
For Sublime Porte, former title of the Ottoman government, see Porte.
sublimity (n.)
early 15c., sublimite, "loftiness, exaltation, worthiness, nobility, glory," from Latin sublimitatem (nominative sublimitas) "loftiness, exaltation," from sublimis "uplifted, exalted, distinguished" (see sublime). The meaning "quality that awakens awe, respect, lofty emotions, etc." is by 1779.
sublimation (n.)
late 14c., sublimacioun, in alchemy, "process of purifying a solid substance by vaporizing it in a closed container then allowing it to cool," from Medieval Latin sublimationem (nominative sublimatio) "refinement, deliverance," literally "a lifting up," noun of action from past-participle stem of Latin sublimare "to raise, elevate," from sublimis "lofty, high, exalted; eminent, distinguished" (see sublime).
sublimate (v.)
1590s, "raise to a high place," back-formation from sublimation or else from Medieval Latin sublimatus, past participle of sublimare "to lift up." The word was used in English from 1560s as a past-participle adjective meaning "purified, refined by sublimation." Chemical/alchemical sense of "heat a solid into vapor and allow it to cool again" as a way of extracting a pure substance from dross is from c. 1600. Related: Sublimated; sublimating. As a noun from 1620s.
subliminal (adj.)
"below the threshold" (of consciousness or sensation), 1873, formed from the source of sublime (Latin sublimis, from limen, genitive liminis) + -al (1)).
Apparently it is a loan-translation of German unter der Schwelle (des Bewusstseins) "beneath the threshold (of consciousness)," from Johann Friedrich Herbart (1776-1841), author of a textbook on psychology published in 1824. The scare over subliminal messages in advertising came in 1957. Related: Subliminally.
sublingual (adj.)
also sub-lingual, "placed or situated under the tongue, hypoglossal," 1660s; see sub- "under, beneath"+ lingual. Compare French sublingual (15c.). Related: Sublingually.
sublunar (adj.)
also sub-lunar, "situated under the moon," c. 1600; from sub- "under, beneath" + lunar (adj.).
sublunary (adj.)
1590s, "situated under the moon," hence "earthly, mundane" (old cosmology), from Modern Latin sublunaris, from sub "under, beneath" (see sub-) + lunaris "of the moon" (see lunar). It owes its special sense to the old cosmology of heavenly spheres and ultimately to Aristotle:
subluxation (n.)
"partial dislocation," 1680s, from Modern Latin subluxationem (nominative subluxatio), from sub "partial" (see sub-) + Late Latin luxationem (nominative luxatio) "a dislocation" (see luxation).
sub-machine-gun (n.)
"light, portable machine gun," 1926, from sub- + machine-gun (n.).
submarine (adj.)
also sub-marine, "situated, acting, or living under the sea," 1640s, from sub- "under, beneath" + marine (adj.).
submarine (n.)
"vessel that can remain underwater and be propelled when entirely submerged," 1899, short for earlier submarine boat (1640s, as a possibility), submarine vessel (1732), from submarine (adj.). Earlier as a noun it meant "a creature living under the sea" (1703, of coral).
The short form sub is attested from 1917. Submarine sandwich is attested by 1931 as an Italian-American food, presumably so called from the shape of the roll. Related: Submariner.
submerge (v.)
c. 1600 (transitive), "cover with water, inundate" (implied in submerged); 1610s as "put under water, plunge;" from French submerger (14c.) or directly from Latin submergere "to plunge under, sink, overwhelm," from sub "under" (see sub-) + mergere "to plunge, immerse" (see merge).
The intransitive meaning "sink under water, sink out of sight" is from 1650s; it became common 20c. in reference to submarines. Related: Submerging; submergence.
submersion (n.)
early 15c., submersioun, "suffocation by being plunged into water," from Late Latin submersionem (nominative submersio) "a sinking, submerging," noun of action from past-participle stem of submergere "to sink" (see submerge). The general sense of "act of submerging; state of being submerged" is from 1610s.
submersible (adj.)
"that may be plunged in or remain under water," 1862, with -ible + submerse or Latin submers-, past-participle stem of submergere "plunge under." As a noun, from 1900, "a submersible craft." Alternative adjective submergible is attested from 1820, from submerge.
submerse (v.)
early 15c., submersen, "to submerge, plunge, put under water" (transitive), from Latin submersus, summersus, past participle of submergere (see submerge). A rare word; modern use (1727) might be a back-formation from submersion. Related: Submersed; submersing.
submicroscopic (adj.)
also sub-microscopic, "too small to be seen, even with the aid of a microscope," 1881, from sub- "smaller (than)" + microscopic. Earliest scientific use is in reference to germs.
submissive (adj.)
1580s, "inclined to submit, yielding to power or authority," from Latin submiss-, past-participle stem of submittere (see submission) + -ive.
The psychological-erotic sense is attested by 1969. As a noun in this sense, by 1985. Submissionist (n.) in various political contexts is recorded by 1828. Related: Submissively; submissiveness.
English in 16c.-17c. also had an adjective submiss "humble, submissive" (1560s), from Old French submis, from Latin submissus.
submission (n.)
late 14c., submissioun, "act of referring to a third party for judgment or decision," from Old French submission or directly from Latin submissionem (nominative submissio) "a lowering, letting down; sinking," noun of action from past-participle stem of submittere "to let down, put down, lower, reduce, yield" (see submit).
The sense of "humble obedience" is attested by mid-15c. By mid-15c. broadly as "act of submitting, act of yielding, entire surrender of control." Compare submittal (n.).
French submission has been replaced by doublet soumission.
submit (v.)
late 14c., submitten, "place (oneself) under the control of another, yield oneself, become submissive" (intransitive), from Latin submittere "to yield, lower, let down, put under, reduce," from sub "under" (see sub-) + mittere "let go, send" (see mission).
The transitive sense of "refer to the discretion or judgment of another" is from early 15c.; especially for criticism or opinion (1550s); hence "propose, declare as one's opinion" (1818). Related: Submitted; submitting.
submittal (n.)
"act or process of submitting," 1866, from submit (v.) + -ance. Marked "rare" in Century Dictionary and OED. Submittance (c. 1600), submitting (n.), late 15c., also are used.
submontane (adj.)
also sub-montane, 1819, "passing under mountains," from sub- "under, beneath" + montane (see ultramontane). By 1830 as "at the foot of the mountains."
subnormal (adj.)
also sub-normal, "less than normal, abnormal by defect or deficiency," 1875, from sub- "under" + normal. The noun is from 1710 in geometry, from a special use of normal in conic sections; by 1916 in psychology and education in reference to persons and intelligence. Related: Subnormality.
suboptimal (adj.)
also sub-optimal, "somewhat below what is most favorable," 1901, from sub- "next below" + optimal. Related: Suboptimally.
suborbital (adj.)
also sub-orbital, 1803, "situated below the orbit of the eye;" 1959 of rocket flights, etc., "not making a complete orbit of the planet," from sub- "below" + orbital (adj.). Related: Suborbitally.
suborder (n.)
also sub-order, 1807 in biology, "a group subordinate to an order, a superfamily;" 1834 in architecture, "an order introduced chiefly for decoration;" from sub- + order (n.). Related: Subordinal.
subordinate (adj.)
mid-15c., subordinat, "having an inferior rank, arranged so that it is dependent on another," from Medieval Latin subordinatus "placed in a lower order, made subject," past participle of subordinare "place in a lower order," from Latin sub "under" (see sub-) + ordinare "arrange, set in order," from ordo (genitive ordinis) "row, rank, series, arrangement" (see order (n.)). Related: Subordinance; subordinant; subordinately.
For "of or pertaining to the classificatory rank of a suborder," subordinal (1842) is used.
subordinate (v.)
"bring into a subordinate position (to something else), place in an order or rank below something else, make of less value, make auxiliary or dependent," 1590s, from Medieval Latin subordinatus (see subordinate (adj.)). Related: Subordinated; subordinating; subordinacy.
subordinate (n.)
"one who ranks below another; one inferior in power, rank, office, etc.," 1630s, from subordinate (adj.). In grammatical use, "word or clause dependent on another."
subordination (n.)
mid-15c., subordinacioun "hierarchical arrangement; act of placing in a lower rank or position," from Medieval Latin subordinationem (nominative subordinatio), noun of action from past-participle stem of subordinare "place in a lower order" (see subordinate (adj.)).
The meaning "condition of being duly submissive," the usual modern sense, is from 1736. Alternative subordinateness (1630s) is marked "rare" in OED.
suborn (v.)
"procure unlawfully, bribe to accomplish a wicked purpose," especially to induce a witness to perjury; also more generally, "lure (someone) to commit a crime;" 1530s, from French suborner "seduce, instigate, bribe" (13c.) and directly from Latin subornare "provide, furnish, equip, adorn;" also, with the notion in the sub- predominant, "instigate, incite secretly; employ as a secret agent;" from sub "under; secretly" (see sub-) + ornare "equip," which is related to ordo "row, rank, series, arrangement" (see order (n.)). Related: Suborned; suborner; suborning. Middle English had an adjective, subornate.
subornation (n.)
"act of bribing or persuading one to a bad or criminal act," especially "the procuring of witnesses to commit perjury;" 1520s, from Latin subornationem (nominative subornatio), noun of action from past-participle stem of subornare "to provide, furnish, equip, adorn;" also, with the notion in the sub- predominant, "instigate, incite secretly" (see suborn).
subpar (adj.)
also sub-par, "below the average level," 1896, from sub- "under" + par.
subplot (n.)
also sub-plot, 1812, in literature, "a subordinate plot in a story" from sub- "subordinate" + plot (n.).
subpoena (n.)
"legal writ or process commanding appearance in a court of justice, under threat of punishment, of the person on whom it is served," early 15c., sub pena, from Medieval Latin sub poena "under penalty," the first words of the writ commanding the presence of someone under penalty of failure, from Latin sub "under" (see sub-) + poena, ablative of poena "penalty" (see penal).
The verb is attested from 1630s, "serve with a writ of subpoena." Related: Subpoenaed; subpoenaing; subpoenal.
subprime (adj.)
also sub-prime, in reference to loans with more onerous conditions, offered to borrowers with poor credit history, by 1978, in frequent use from 1996, from sub- "below" + prime (adj.) "of the first quality."
subregion (n.)
also sub-region, "subdivision of a region," 1830, from sub- + region (n.). Related: Subregional.
subreption (n.)
"act of obtaining a favor by concealment or fraudulent suppression of facts," c. 1600, from Latin subreptionem (nominative subreptio), noun of action from past-participle stem of subripere, surripere "seize secretly, take away, steal, plagiarize" (see surreptitious). Related: Subreptitious; supreptive.
subrogation (n.)
early 15c., subrogacioun, "substitution," from Old French subrogation and directly from Latin subrogationem (nominative subrogatio) "substitution," noun of action from past-participle stem of subrogare (see subrogate). The legal sense of "irregular or unlawful placement of someone in an office" is by 1710.
subrogate (v.)
"to substitute, put (something) in place of (something else)," early 15c., subrogaten, from Latin subrogatus/surrogatus, past participle of subrogare/surrogare "put in another's place, substitute, cause to be chosen in place of another," from sub "in the place of, under" (see sub-) + rogare "to ask, propose," apparently a figurative use of a PIE verb meaning literally "to stretch out (the hand)," from root *reg- "move in a straight line" (compare surrogate). Rare after 17c., and surviving largely in legal passages. Related: Subrogated; subrogating.
sub rosa (adv.)
"privately, secretly," Latin, literally "under the rose," which was regarded as a symbol of secrecy or silence.
sub-Saharan (adj.)
in reference to the region of Africa below the Sahara desert, 1955, from sub- "next below" + Saharan (see Sahara).
subscribe (v.)
early 15c., subscriben, "to sign at the bottom of a document" (a sense now rare); mid-15c., "give one's consent, bind oneself" (by subscribing one's name); from Latin subscribere "write, write underneath, sign one's name; register," also figuratively "assent, agree to, approve," from sub "underneath" (see sub-) + scribere "to write" (from PIE root *skribh- "to cut").
The sense of "give one's assent" (to) an opinion, theory, etc., is by 1540s. The meaning "promise to contribute money to" is by 1630s; and that of "become a regular buyer of (a publication)" 1711; both originally literal. Related: Subscribed; subscribing.
subscriber (n.)
"one who subscribes," in any sense, 1590s, agent noun from subscribe. Used by Bell Telephone Company by 1878 in reference to customers who paid for a telephone line. Echoing letters to the editor, The Subscriber formerly was colloquial for one speaking or writing.
subscription (n.)
c. 1400, subscripcioun, "piece of writing at the end of a document," especially one's name or mark to attest to its authenticity, from Anglo-French subscripcion, Old French subscription (Modern French souscription) and directly from Latin subscriptionem (nominative subscriptio) "anything written underneath, a signature," noun of action from past-participle stem of subscribere (see subscribe).
The sense of "act of subscribing" is by late 15c., originally literal, "sign at the end." The meaning "act of subscribing money, formal agreement to make payments" is from 1640s; that of "a sum of money contributed for a particular purpose" is by 1670s.
subscript (n.)
1704, "that which is written underneath" (rare), from Latin subscriptus, past participle of subscribere "write underneath" (see subscribe). As an adjective, "written beneath," by 1871. Related: Subscriptive.
subsection (n.)
also sub-section, "part or division of a section," 1620s, from sub- + section (n.).
subsequent (adj.)
"following next in order or time, later," mid-15c., from Old French subsequent (14c.) and directly from Latin subsequentem (nominative subsequens), present participle of subsequi "come after in time, follow closely," figuratively "imitate, conform to," from sub "closely, up to" (see sub-) + sequi "follow" (from PIE root *sekw- (1) "to follow"). Related: Subsequently; subsequential.
subsequence (n.)
c. 1500, "that which is subsequent; 1660s, "state or act of following;" from Late Latin subsequentia "act of following, succession," from Latin subsequens (see subsequent). Related: Subsequency.
subserve (v.)
1610s, intransitive, "serve in a subordinate capacity;" 1670s, transitive, "be a useful instrument to," from Latin subservus, past participle of subservire "assist, come to the help of" (see subservient).
subservient (adj.)
1630s, "useful as an instrument or means, serviceable," from Latin subservientem (nominative subserviens), present participle of subservire "assist, serve, come to the help of, lend support," from sub "under" (see sub-) + servire "serve" (see serve (v.)).
The meaning "slavishly obedient, disposed to serve in an inferior capacity" is recorded by 1794. Related: Subserviently.
subservience (n.)
"state or character of being subservient," 1670s; see subservient + -ence. Related: Subserviency (1620s).
subset (n.)
also sub-set, "subordinate set," 1897, originally in mathematics, from sub- + set (n.1).
subsidize (v.)
1755, "secure the services of (mercenaries, foreign troops, etc.) by payment of a subsidy," from subsidy + -ize. Also of nations, "to buy neutrality or alliance."
A sense of "secure the services of by bribery" is from 1815. The meaning "support by grants of (often government) money" is from 1828. Related: Subsidized; subsidizing.
subside (v.)
1680s, of objects, "to sink to the bottom," from Latin subsidere "sit down, settle, sink, fall; remain; crouch down, squat," from sub "under, beneath" (see sub-) + sidere "to settle," related to sedere "to sit" (from PIE root *sed- (1) "to sit").
In reference to feelings, excitement, etc., "cease from action, become less violent or agitated, become calm or tranquil," c. 1700. By 1721 of winds. Of liquid surfaces, "to sink to a lower level, be reduced" from 1706. Related: Subsided; subsiding.
subsidence (n.)
1650s, "a settling to the bottom," from subside (v.) + -ence, or else from Latin subsidentia "a settling down," from subsidens, from subsidere.
subsidy (n.)
late 14c., subsidie, "help, aid, assistance, relief," especially "aid in money, pecuniary aid," from Anglo-French subsidie, Old French subside "help, aid, assistance, contribution," from Latin subsidium "a help, aid, assistance, (military) reinforcements, troops in reserve," from subsidere "to settle down, stay, remain" (see subside). The meaning "direct pecuniary aid to private industry" is by 1867.
subsidiarity (n.)
"quality of being subsidiary," 1936, from German Subsidiarität, paraphrasing the Latin of Pius XI in his Quadragesimo Anno of 1931; see subsidiary + -ity.
subsidiary (adj.)
"held in reserve, held ready to furnish assistance," 1540s, from Latin subsidiarius "belonging to a reserve, of a reserve, reserved; serving to assist or supplement," from subsidium "a help, aid, relief, troops in reserve" (see subsidy).
As a noun, c. 1600, "subsidiary thing, one who or that which contributes aid or additional support." The Latin adjective also was used in Latin as a noun meaning "the reserve."
subsidise (v.)
chiefly British English spelling of subsidize. For suffix, see -ize. Related: Subsidised; subsidising.
subsist (v.)
1540s, "to exist, have reality;" c. 1600, "to remain, continue, retain the existing state," from French subsister and directly from Latin subsistere "to stand still or firm, take a stand, take position; abide, stay, remain, hold out," from sub "under, up to" (see sub-) + sistere "to assume a standing position, stand still, remain; set, place, cause to stand still" (from reduplicated form of PIE root *sta- "to stand, make or be firm").
By 1630s in philosophy and theology, "inhere, have existence by means of something else." The meaning "support oneself" (in a certain way) is from 1640s. Also transitive, "provide sustenance or provisions for" (1680s). Related: Subsisted; subsisting.
subsistent (adj.)
1520s, "continuing to exist," also "inherent, residing in" (a sense now obsolete), from Latin subsistentem (nominative subsistens), present participle of subsistere "stand still or firm" (see subsistence). Related: Subsistential.
subsistence (n.)
early 15c., "actual existence, real being," from Late Latin subsistentia "substance, reality," in Medieval Latin also "stability," from Latin subsistens, present participle of subsistere "stand still or firm" (see subsist). Related: Subsistency.
Latin subsistentia is a loan-translation of Greek hypostasis "foundation, substance, real nature, subject matter;" also "that which settles at the bottom, sediment," literally "anything set under."
In the English word, the meaning "act or process of support for physical life" is from 1640s. The sense of "state of being (no more than) subsistent" is by 1680s; subsistence diet is by 1865, popularized, if not coined, by Lyon Playfair, professor of chemistry at University of Edinburgh, in a lecture delivered at the Royal Society on April 3, 1865, and published as "On the Food of Man in Relation to His Useful Work."
subsoil (n.)
"under-soil, the layer or bed of less organic earthy matter immediately below the surface soil," 1799, from sub- "under, beneath" + soil (n.).
subsonic (adj.)
also sub-sonic, "being below the speed of sound" 1937, from sub- "below" + sonic (adj.). Compare supersonic. As a noun, short for subsonic aircraft, 1970.
subspecies (n.)
"variety of a species; a set of similar plants or animals recognizably different from the species, but not specific enough to be its own," 1690s, from sub- + species. Exact definitions were much debated. Related: Subspecific.
substance (n.)
c. 1300, substaunce, "divine part or essence" common to the persons of the Trinity;" mid-14c. in philosophy and theology, "that which exists by itself; essential nature; type or kind of thing; real or essential part;" from Old French sustance, substance "goods, possessions; nature, composition" (12c.), from Latin substantia "being, essence, material." This is from substans, present participle of substare "stand firm, stand or be under, be present," from sub "up to, under" (see sub-) + stare "to stand" (from PIE root *sta- "to stand, make or be firm").
Latin substantia translates Greek ousia "that which is one's own, one's substance or property; the being, essence, or nature of anything."
The figurative and general meaning "any kind of corporeal matter, stuff," is attested from mid-14c. As "material wealth, property, goods," late 14c.
The sense of "the matter of a study, discourse, etc.; content of a speech or literary work" is recorded late 14c. That of "meaning expressed by a speech or writing," as distinguished from style, form, performance, is by 1780.
sub-standard (adj.)
also substandard, "below a set or specified level of attainment," 1909, from sub- "below, beneath" + standard (adj.).
substantive (adj.)
late 14c., substantif, in grammar, "denoting a person, place, or thing" (in noun substantif); "signifying the existence of an object" (verb substantif), from Old French substantif and directly from Late Latin substantivus "of substance or being, self-existent," from Latin substantia "being, essence, material" (see substance).
For sense evolution, see substantive (n.). It is attested by c. 1400 in a non-grammatical sense, "standing by itself, independent." Related: Substantival; substantively.