subordinate

³sub·or·di·nate

verb \sə-ˈbȯr-də-ˌnāt\

sub·or·di·nat·edsub·or·di·nat·ing

Definition of SUBORDINATE

transitive verb

1

: to make subject or subservient

2

: to treat as of less value or importance <stylist … whose crystalline prose subordinates content to form — Susan Heath>

— sub·or·di·na·tion \-ˌbȯr-də-ˈnā-shən\ noun

— sub·or·di·na·tive \-ˈbȯr-də-ˌnā-tiv\ adjective

Examples of SUBORDINATE

1. <it is one of the lessons of history that more powerful civilizations often subordinate weaker ones>
2. Clinton administration Trade Representative Mickey Kantor declared: “The days when we could afford to subordinate our economic interests to foreign policy or defense concerns are long past.” —Lawrence F. Kaplan, New Republic, 18 Mar. 2002
3. The real reason, though, is that art survives life, and this unpalatable realization lies behind the lumpen desire to subordinate the former to the latter. The finite always mistakes the permanent for the infinite and nurtures designs upon it. —Joseph Brodsky, Times Literary Supplement, 26 Oct. 1990

Origin of SUBORDINATE

Medieval Latin subordinatus (see ¹subordinate)

First Known Use: 1597

Related to SUBORDINATE

Synonyms: dominate, overpower, pacify, subdue, subject, subjugate, conquer, vanquish

Related Words: annihilate, beat, clobber, crush, defeat, drub, lick, mow (down), overcome, prevail (over), reduce, rout, skunk, smash, thrash, triumph (over), trounce, wallop, whip; enslave; break, clamp down (on), crack down (on), put down, quash, quell, repress, silence, smother, snuff (out), squash, squelch, suppress

Near Antonyms: discharge, emancipate, enfranchise, free, liberate, manumit, release, spring, unbind, uncage, unchain, unfetter

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