subjection
(səbˈdʒɛkʃən)
Also 4–5 -ieccioun, -one, 4–6 -ieccion, 4–7 -iection, 5–6 -iectione, -geccion, -gection, -yon, 5–7 -iectioun, (4 subieccoun, 5 -ccyoun, -iounne, -iecctioun, -ione, -iectyon, supjection, 6 -ieccyon).
[a. OF. subjection (12th c.), in mod.F. only in Rhet. sense, sujétion (17th c.) in other senses, ad. L. subjectio, -ōnem, n. of action f. subicĕre (see subject a.). Cf. Pr. subjection, It. soggezione, suggezione, and subbiezione, Sp. sujecion, in Rhet. sense subjecion, Pg. sujei{cced}ão, subjei{cced}ão.]
† 1. The act, state, or fact of exercising lordship or control; dominion, domination, control. Obs.
| c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints vii. (Jacobus) 485 Dee þare þam leware wes ay, þane fore to thol subieccione of hyme þat segyt þan þar towne. c 1400 Apol. Loll. 59 Þof þu desire to be prest, or be befor to hem þat þu coueitist..ouer proudly in coueiting subieccoun of hem. 1596 Spenser State Irel. Wks. (Globe) 650/1 They should all rise generally into rebellion, and cast away the English subjection. 1667 Milton P.L. x. 153 Lovely to attract Thy Love, not thy Subjection. |
b. Phr. in subjection, into subjection, † to subjection, † unto subjection, † under subjection: in, into, under the dominion or control of a superior power.
Now felt as belonging to 2.
| 1340 Hampole Pr. Consc. 4064 Swa þat it be put til destruccion Thurgh þam þat first was in subieccion. c 1386 Chaucer Monk's T. 476 He..This wyde world hadde in subieccioun. 1390 Gower Conf. I. 26 Of Babiloine al that Empire..[he] Put under in subjeccioun. c 1430 Lydg. Min. Poems (Percy Soc.) 90 Of Assurye to rekne the kynges alle, Whiche had that lond under subjeccioune. 1513 Bradshaw St. Werburge i. 1544 Lowly submyttynge her vnder subieccyon. 1535 Coverdale Ps. viii. 6 Thou hast put all thinges in subieccion vnder his fete. 1592 Soliman & Pers. iii. i. 148 Till thou hast brought Rhodes in subiection. 1601 Shakes. All's Well i. i. 6 To whom I am now in Ward, euermore in subiection. 1667 Milton P.L. ix. 1128 Both in subjection now To sensual Appetite. a 1715 Burnet Own Time i. (1724) I. 46 They [sc. the military force] will ever keep the Parliament in subjection to them. 1758 J. Dalrymple Ess. Feudal Property (ed. 2) 3 The modern European colonies are kept in subjection..to their native country. 1853 Newman Hist. Sk. (1876) I. i. ii. 91 The Caliph..was in subjection to a family of the old Persian race. 1862 Sir B. Brodie Psychol. Inq. II. ii. 62 A well-regulated imagination, which is kept in subjection to the judgment. |
c. with possessive pron. or phr. denoting the superior power or authority. Obs. or arch.
| 1340 Hampole Pr. Consc. 4070 Fra þat tyme sal na land ne contre In subieccion of Rome langer be. 1390 Gower Conf. III. 180 He..Which hath in his subjeccion Tho men whiche in possession Ben riche of gold. c 1400 Mandeville (Roxb.) vi. 20 Oþer rewmes þat er vnder his subieccion. c 1407 Lydg. Reson & Sens. 5281 He kan make hem to lowte Vn-to his subieccion. c 1460 Oseney Reg. 110 This..graunt I made for A chaunterye..free and quietly fro the subieccion of the modur church. c 1489 Caxton Sonnes of Aymon xix. 408 Whan he sawe that he was..in the subgectyon of Reynawde..he was sore an angred. c 1500 Melusine 17 Al the Countre therabout he held vnder his subgection. 1530 Palsgr. 355 Whiche dyd submytte a great parte of Grece in their subjection. 1568 Grafton Chron. II. 885 To submit themselues to the subiection and grieuous yoke of the French king. 1584–5 Act 27 Eliz. c. 2. §4 Any Parson under her Majesties Subjection or Obedience. 1632 Lithgow Trav. iii. 78 [The Cretans] would rather..render to the Turke, then to liue vnder the subection of Venice. 1652 J. Wright tr. Camus' Nat. Paradox i. 3 The Castellians are those who have Lands, Citties, Burroughs, Villages and Seignories under their subjection. 1800 Asiatic Ann. Reg. I a. 25/1 In reducing under his subjection the whole of the districts in which the best cinnamon is produced. |
2. The act or fact of being subjected, as under a monarch or other sovereign or superior power; the state of being subject to, or under the dominion of, another; hence gen., subordination.
| 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. vi. xviii. (1495) 203 As the name seruaunt is a name of subieccion so the name lord is a name of soueraynte. c 1470 Gol. & Gaw. 441 Sauand my senyeoury fra subiectioun, And my lordscip vn-lamyt. 1563 Winȝet tr. Vincent. Lirin. Wks. (S.T.S.) II. 5 The subiectioun of the Israelitis amangis the Gentilis. 1596 Spenser State Irel. Wks. (Globe) 612/2 That generall subjection of the land, wherof we formerly spake. 1611 Speed Theat. Gt. Brit. i. xii. 23/2 [Bristol] because it is an entire County of it selfe, it denies subiection vnto either [Somersetshire and Glocestershire]. 1620 T. Granger Div. Logike 248 In regard of their conuenience, and subiection to the whole, they make no disiunction or opposition. 1641 ‘Smectymnuus’ Vind. Answ. vii. 98 Now we read no where of the subjection of one Bishop and his charge to an other. 1651 Hobbes Leviathan i. viii. 39 Our obedience, and subjection to God Almighty. 1662 South Serm. Gen. i. 27 (1697) I. 67 The Will..was subordinate..to the Understanding..as a Queen to her King; who both acknowledges a Subjection, and yet retains a Majesty. 1814 Wordsw. Excurs. iii. 268 By philosophic discipline prepared For calm subjection to acknowledged law. 1869 J. S. Mill (title) The subjection of women. 1872 Yeats Growth Comm. 58 The patriotic spirit..lost its force in a common subjection to Rome. |
† 3. Submission; obedience; homage. Obs.
| 1382 Wyclif 1 Tim. ii. 11 A womman lerne in silence, with al subieccioun. 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) II. 115 Þe bisshop of Meneuia was i-sacred of þe bisshoppes of Wales..and made non professioun noþer subiection to non oþer chirche. 1387–8 T. Usk Test. Love i. ii. (Skeat) l. 10 A maner of ferdnesse crepeth in his herte, not for harme, but of goodly subjeccion. 1419 in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. ii. I. 65 We ȝoure humble liges and servitours, with all subjection and humilitee. 1426 Lydg. De Guil. Pilgr. 1031 The body to the soule obeye In euery maner skylful weye, And bern to hym subieccion. 1460 J. Capgrave Chron. (Rolls) Ded. 1 To my Sovereyn Lord Edward..a pore Frere..sendith prayer, obediens, subjeccion. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 96 b, Good religyon and subieccyon sore reproueth contempte for his suggestyon. 1671 Milton Samson 1405 Masters commands come with a power resistless To such as owe them absolute subjection. a 1674 Clarendon Surv. Leviathan (1676) 91 To withdraw their subjection. |
4. The action of making subject or bringing under a dominion or control; subjugation. rare.
| 1597 Hooker Eccl. Pol. v. xlix. 104 The subiection of the body to the will is by naturall necessitie, the subiection of the will vnto God voluntarie. a 1676 Hale (J.), After the conquest of the kingdom and subjection of the rebels. 1849–50 Alison Hist. Eur. VII. xlii. §43. 125 The conquest of Europe, or at least the subjection of all its governments to his control. |
† 5. The condition of a subject, and the obligations pertaining to it. Obs.
| 1599 Shakes. Hen. V, iv. i. 153 The King..who to disobey, were against all proportion of subiection. 1611 ― Cymb. iv. iii. 19, I dare be bound hee's true, and shall performe All parts of his subiection loyally. a 1635 Naunton Fragm. Reg. in Phœnix (1707) I. 191 The Duke of Northumberland..rose as high as subjection could permit, or sovereignty endure. |
† b. concr. Subjects collectively. Obs.
| 1502 Ord. Crysten Men (W. de W.) v. iii. LL ij, The subgeccyon ayenst theyr prelates, the chyldren agayne the fader and moder. 1646 Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. 302 How populous the land from whence they came was, may be collected..from their ability in commanding so mighty subjections. |
6. Legal or contractual obligation or liability.
| c 1450 Godstow Reg. 342 With-out any subieccion as any of that same hold ought, sauf only the forsaide xij. d vnto the workes of the forsaid chirch yerely. 1456 Sir G. Haye Law Arms (S.T.S.) 192 [If] a man suld.. defend his frende in his presence injurit, sa is he nocht bounde to na subjectioun of law tharfore. 1760 T. Hutchinson Hist. Mass. ii. (1765) 251 They distinguished civil subjection, into necessary and voluntary. 1769 Blackstone Comm. IV. ii. 28 The obligation of civil subjection, whereby the inferior is constrained by the superior to act contrary to what his own reason and inclination would suggest. 1843–56 Bouvier Law Dict. (ed. 6) II. 553/2 Subjection, the obligation of..persons to act at the discretion, or according to the judgment and will of others. |
† 7. The condition of being under some necessity or obligation; a duty or task; an ‘infliction’. Obs.
| 1581 G. Pettie Guazzo's Civ. Conv. i. (1586) 3, I feele it a great trauell..to obserue such circumstances, as the qualitie of the persons, and mine owne honor require: which is nothing else but paine and subiection. 1658 Evelyn Fr. Gard. (1675) 261 'Tis too great a subjection to gather their blossoms. 1659 ― Let. to Boyle 9 Aug., The many subjections, which I cannot support, of conversing with mechanical capricious persons. 1685 ― Mrs. Godolphin (1888) 183, I tell you she looked at it [sc. being obliged to play at cards] as a Calamity and subjection insupportable. 1719 London & Wise Complete Gard'ner 313 The only Subjection we are obliged to in such Grounds, is, first, to weed much. |
† 8. The condition of being subject, exposed, or liable to; liability. Obs.
| 1593 Mundy Def. Contraries 39 They are free from subiection to eie medicines, which they haue need to practise, that are subiect to the eyes inflamation. 1628 T. Spencer Logick 128 His subiection to death; as a qualitie of his being. 1758 J. Dalrymple Ess. Feudal Property (ed. 2) 154 In respect of subjection to forfeiture. |
† 9. Rhet. An answer subjoined by a speaker to a question that he has just asked; the figure involving this; hence, a subjoined or additional statement, corollary. Obs.
| 1608 J. King Serm. 5 Nov. 13 For what hath the righteous done? The subiection or answere implied must needs be, nihil, iust nothing. 1652 Urquhart Jewel 278 The refutative Schemes of Anticipation and Subjection. 1659 J. Leak Waterwks. Pref. 3 If we should build upon this Rule of Archimedes, That the Superficies of the Water is Spherical..there will follow a Subjection that we must hold in the Demonstrations; viz. That the Superficies of the Water is Circular. 1753 Chambers' Cycl. Suppl., Subjection..is used for a brief answer to a preceding interrogation. |
† 10. A putting under or placing before. rare.
| 1615 T. Adams Leaven 100 The most simple; who better vnderstand a spiritual doctrine, by the reall subiection of some thing familiar to their senses. |
11. Logic. The act of supplying a subject to a predicate.
| In mod. Dicts. |
¶ 12. Misused for suggestion. (Cf. subjestion.)
| c 1386 Chaucer Pars. T. ¶351 The firste thing is..thilke flesshly concupisence, and after that comth the subieccion [v. rr. suggestion(e] of the deuel. a 1450 Knt. de la Tour (1868) 77 The kinge, thorughe her false subieccion, putte Ioseph into stronge prison. |