▪ I. subaltern, a. and n.
(ˈsʌbəltən, səˈbɔːltən)
Also 6–7 -erne.
[ad. late L. subalternus (Boethius, in sense 1 b): see sub- III and altern. Cf. F. subalterne (from 15th c.), It., Sp., Pg. subalterno.
Johnson 1755 has ˈsubaltern, which is now the prevailing stressing in England, and, for the logical sense, in U.S. The stressing suˈbaltern first appears recorded in Bailey's (folio) Dict. of 1730.]
A. adj.
† 1. a. Succeeding in turn. Obs. rare.
| 1604 R. Cawdrey Table Alph., Subalterne, succeeding, following by course and order. 1698 Fryer Acc. E. India & P. 363 Therefore God framed the first Intelligence, and that mediating the first Heaven, and so in their subaltern order to the Tenth. 1762 Mills Syst. Pract. Husb. I. 469 The main stem, advancing higher and higher, left behind the subaltern blossom of a lower joint. |
b. Logic. subaltern genus (or subaltern species): a genus that is at the same time a species of a higher genus.
| 1654 Z. Coke Logick 21 Subaltern Genus is, that is successive and by turn, that is when it is genus of them contained under it, and species of that which is above it. 1692 Ray Disc. ii. iv. (1732) 149 A distinct subaltern Genus. 1725 Watts Logic i. iii. §3 This sort of universal Ideas, which may either be consider'd as a Genus, or a Species, is call'd Subaltern. 1826 Whately Logic i. ii. §5 (1827) 65 Iron-ore is a subaltern species or genus, being both the genus of magnet, and a species of mineral. 1864 Bowen Logic iv. 72 The intermediate Concepts are the Subaltern Genera or Species. |
2. Of inferior status, quality, or importance. a. Of a person or body of persons: Subordinate, inferior. Now rare.
| 1581 Lambarde Eiren. i. v. 26 From the King..ought to flow all auctoritie to the inferiour and subalterne Iustices. 1597 Skene De Verb. Sign. s.v. Homagium, Sum are maist chiefe and principall, sik as the King... Uther over-lordes are inferiour and subalterne. 1598 Dallington Meth. Trav. Q 2 b, To this Parliament, they appeale from all other subalterne Courts throughout the Realme. 1622 Malynes Anc. Law-Merch. 472 The Iudges for terme of life, and officers subalterne changing from yeare to yeare. 1695 Blackmore Pr. Arth. vi. 681 Inferiour, subaltern Divinities. 1728 Chambers Cycl. s.v., The Subaltern Persons in an Epic Poem. 1734 tr. Rollin's Anc. Hist. (1827) I. 127 All such subaltern actors as played between the acts. 1809 Malkin Gil Blas viii. xiii. (Rtldg.) 309 Some subaltern attendants about the king's person. 1814 Scott Wav. li, He had been long employed as a subaltern agent and spy by those in the confidence of the Chevalier. 1875 Gladstone Glean. (1879) VI. 189 A case in which the statute prescribed a major amount of observance, but the subaltern or executive authority was content with a minor amount. |
| Const. to. 1597 Extr. Aberd. Reg. (1848) II. 154 Na maister..(except of the sang school), bot sic as sal be subalterne to the maister of the grammer school. 1609 Overbury Observ. France (1626) 17 Then hath euery Towne and Fortresse particular Gouernours, which are not subalterne to that of the Prouince. 1699 Burnet 39 Art. i. 18 Others holding a vast number of Gods, either all equal or subaltern to one another. 1728 Chambers Cycl. s.v., The Patriarchs..had several Wives..; but there were several subaltern to the principal Wife. |
b. Hence, of rank, power, authority, action: Of or pertaining to a subordinate or inferior.
| 1581 Mulcaster Positions xxxv. (1888) 126 Where to much distraction is, and subalterne professions be made seuerall heads. 1601 J. Wheeler Treat. Comm. 25 A Deputie, and certaine discreet persons..who..haue subalterne power to exercise Merchants law. 1602 R. Carew Cornwall 85 b, Neither can the parish Constables well brooke the same, because it submitteth them to a subalterne commaund. 1726 Swift Gulliver iv. vi. 295 They have a subaltern court paid to them by persons of the best rank. 1817 Lady Morgan France i. (1818) I. 18 Gallantly fighting his way through every subaltern degree of his profession. 1822 Scott Nigel x, Protect the poor against subaltern oppression. 1868 Gladstone Juv. Mundi xi. 416 Sometimes the sovereignty was local, or subaltern. |
c. Of immaterial things. (In recent use U.S.)
| 1644 Digby Nat. Bodies xxiii. 204 Which [motion] when it is once in act, hath..many other subalterne motions ouer which it presideth. 1654 H. L'Estrange Chas. I (1655) 196 The vanity of that Faith, which is founded upon causes subaltern. 1750 Johnson Rambler No. 72 ¶2 You have shown yourself not ignorant of the value of those subaltern endowments. 1776 Burney Hist. Mus. (1789) I. i. 61 These modes had other subaltern modes that were dependent on them. 1839 Hallam Lit. Eur. iii. iv. §55 All causes of wealth, except those he has enumerated, Serra holds to be subaltern or temporary. 1866 Whipple Char. & Char. Men 22 The power and working intelligence of the subaltern natures it uses. 1893 in J. H. Barrows World's Parl. Relig. I. 256 Not a subaltern science to dogmatic theology. |
† d. Of material things. Obs.
| 1733 tr. Winslow's Anat. (1756) I. 302 The Composition of the Fibres of this Muscle, and its division into several subaltern Muscles. |
3. subaltern officer: an officer in the army of junior rank, i.e. below that of captain. Hence subaltern rank, etc.
| 1688 Lond. Gaz. No. 2396/3 Count Strozzi..was..Shot dead..and two or three Subalterne Officers wounded. 1702 Milit. Dict. (1704) s.v. Officer, Subaltern-Officers. The Lieutenant, Ensigns, and Cornets of Horse, Foot, and Dragoons, are so call'd. a 1721 Prior Dial. Dead (1907) 208 Had not I equally my Captains, and Subaltern Officers? 1807 Med. Jrnl. XVII. 222 The cries of the soldier were heard by the subaltern officer. 1811 Regul. & Orders Army 248 The Subaltern Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers, and Men, are to be divided into Watches. 1859 W. Collins Q. of Hearts iv, Have you any ears left for small items of private intelligence from insignificant subaltern officers? |
4. Of a vassal: Holding of one who is himself a vassal. Hence of a feu or right.
| 1681 Stair Inst. Law Scot. i. xiii. 252 The Vassals of the King, who only might grant subaltern Infeftments of their Ward Lands. Ibid. xxi. 420 If the major part be not alienate, Subaltern Infeudations..infer not recognition, when these rights are disjunctim of parts of the Fee. Ibid. 424 Seing all other Rights fall in consequentiam, as was found in Subaltern-rights, in the said case. Ibid. 429 Omitted not only by the immediat Vassal, but by all subaltern Vassals. 1723 Bibl. Literaria No. vi. 17 Reliefs, Fines, Duties upon the several subaltern Manors. 1765–8 Erskine Inst. Law Scot. ii. vii. §8 Subaltern infeftments soon recovered force after the statute of Robert which abolished them. 1838 W. Bell Dict. Law Scot. 88 Suppose A to hold of the Crown blench, and that he subfeus his lands to B, to be held in feu... A's right is termed a public one; B's a base or subaltern right. |
5. Logic. Of a proposition: Particular, in relation to a universal of the same quality.
subaltern opposition: opposition between a universal and a particular of the same quality. (Cf. subalternant, subalternate.)
| 1656 tr. Hobbes' Elem. Philos. i. iii. 30 Subaltern, are Universal and Particular Propositions of the same Quality; as, Every Man is a Living Creature, Some Man is a Living Creature. 1725 Watts Logic ii. ii. §3 Both particular and universal Propositions which agree in Quality but not in Quantity are call'd Subaltern. 1860 Abp. Thomson Laws Th. §84. 151 Subaltern opposition is between any pair of affirmative or negative judgments, when the one has fewer terms distributed, that is, taken entire, than the other. 1864 Bowen Logic vi. 162, I can immediately infer the truth of its Subaltern Opposite. |
B. n.
1. A person († or thing) of inferior rank or status; a subordinate; occas. † a subaltern genus; † a subordinate character in a book.
| 1605 Camden Rem. (1623) 4 When all Christianity in the Counsell of Constance was diuided into Nations, Anglicana Natio was one of the principall and no subalterne. a 1619 M. Fotherby Atheom. ii. iii. §3 (1622) 219 The subalternes, are both, in their diuers relations; Genera, to their inferiors; and Species, to their superiors. a 1628 F. Grevil Life of Sidney (1652) 14 They..both encourage, and shaddow the conspiracies of ambitious subalternes to their false endes. 1706 Phillips (ed. Kersey), Subalterns, inferiour Judges, or Officers. 1765 H. Walpole Otranto (1886) 10 The art of the author is very observable in the conduct of the subalterns. 1787 C. Smith Rom. Real Life II. 133 If the subalterns of the law once seize on the property. 1816 ‘Quiz’ Grand Master i. 3 Passive obedience under wrongs, 'Tis thought, to subalterns belongs. 1860 Emerson Cond. Life, Power Wks. (Bohn) II. 332 The geologist reports the surveys of his subalterns. 1885 ‘Mrs. Alexander’ At Bay v, The chef de la sûreté and his subaltern. |
2. a. A subaltern officer in the army.
| 1690 Lond. Gaz. No. 2616/3 The Marquis de St. George,..with his Lieutenant-Colonel, Major, 10 Captains, and 25 Subalternes are arrived here. 1760 Caut. & Adv. Off. Army 77 A Subaltern will find it extremely difficult to live upon his Pay, and support the Appearance of a Gentleman. 1796 Morse Amer. Geog. I. 431 The respective companies choose their captain, and subalterns. 1811 Gen. Regul. Army 37 No Officer shall be promoted to the Rank of Captain, until he has been Three Years a Subaltern. 1846 Browning Luria iii. 4 How could subalterns like myself expect Leisure or leave to occupy the field? |
| attrib. 1898 ‘Merriman’ Roden's Corner x, Major White had, in his subaltern days, been despatched from Gibraltar on a business quest into the interior of Spain. |
b. subaltern's butter, the fruit of Persea gratissima = avocado, called also midshipman's butter; subaltern's luncheon (see quot. 1904).
| 1829 Marryat Fr. Mildmay xviii, Abbogada pears (better known by the name of subaltern's butter). 1904 A. Griffiths 50 Yrs. Public Serv. 50 The traditional ‘subaltern's luncheon’—‘a glass of water and a pull at the waistbelt’. |
3. Logic. A subaltern proposition.
| 1685 tr. Arnauld & Nicole's Logic ii. ii. 169 If they differ in Quantity only, and agree in Quality, as A.I. and E.O. they are call'd Subalterns. 1816 Elements of Logic ii. iii. 47 Propositions which differ only in quantity are called subalterns. 1826 Whately Logic ii. ii. §3, 1st. the two universals (A and E) are called contraries to each other; 2d. the two particular, (I and O) subcontraries; 3rd. A and I, or E and O, subalterns; 4th. A and O, or E and I, contradictories. Ibid., Subalterns differ in quantity alone; Contraries, and also Subcontraries, in quality alone. 1870 Jevons Elem. Logic ix. 78 Of subalterns, the particular is true if the universal be true. |
Hence ˈsubalternhood, -ship, the status or period of service of a subaltern.
| 1857 Fraser's Mag. LVI. 172 The Indian officer has to serve a long subalternhood. 1861 Cornh. Mag. Jan. 74 James Outram soon obtained the grand reward of efficiency in regimental subalternship, the adjutancy of a corps. |
▪ II. † subaltern, v. Obs. rare.
[ad. med.L. subalternāre, f. subalternus (see prec.). Cf. OF. subalterner.]
trans. To subordinate.
| c 1400 Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton) i. xxx. (1859) 34 Al other worldly lawes ben..subalterned to gods lawe. |