subordination

American  

[suh-bawr-dn-ey-shuhn] / səˌbɔr dnˈeɪ ʃən /

Sometimes subordinacy

noun

1. the act of placing in a lower rank or position.

   The refusal to allow women to be educated was part of society's subordination of women to men.

2. the act of subordinating, or of making dependent, secondary, or subservient.

3. the condition of being subordinated, or made dependent, secondary, or subservient.

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subordination Cultural  

1. The use of expressions that make one element of a sentence dependent on another. In the following sentence, the first (italicized) clause (also called a subordinate clause) is subordinate to the second clause: “Despite all efforts toward a peaceful settlement of the dispute, war finally broke out.” (Compare coordination, dependent clause, and independent clause.)

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Other Word Forms

• nonsubordination
  noun
• presubordination
  noun
• self-subordination
  noun

Etymology

Origin of subordination

First recorded in 1425–75; from Late Latin subordination-, stem of subordinatio, equivalent to Medieval Latin subōrdināt(us), past participle of subōrdināre subordinate ( def. ) + -iō -ion ( def. )

Explanation

Subordination means lowering. In animal packs, gestures of subordination include staying low and making gestures of play. In the military, one shows subordination by saluting first. You are more likely to be familiar with the opposite of subordination, insubordination. In the military, acts of insubordination means refusing to follow your superior and is a punishable crime. The 1920s finalized the subordination of investigations into ESP and the like. They were discredited and stopped being investigated by mainstream scientists.

Example Sentences

Subordination describes the process of relegating a creditor’s claim below that of others.

From New York Times • Feb. 29, 2012

Subordination prelatical, which is of one or more parishes to the prelate and his cathedral, is denied; all particular churches being collateral, and of the same authority.

From The Divine Right of Church Government by Sundry Ministers Of Christ Within The City Of London by

Subordination supposes power in one part, and subjection on the other; and if power be in the hands of men, it will sometimes be abused.

From Shorter Novels, Eighteenth Century The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia; The Castle of Otranto, a Gothic Story; Vathek, an Arabian Tale by Beckford, William

These are two great antagonistic principles, when sifted to the bottom; one the principle of Order, through Subordination, the soul of Conservatism; and the other the principle of Freedom, through Individuality, the soul of Progression.

From The Continental Monthly, Vol. 5, No. 3, March, 1864 Devoted to Literature and National Policy by Various

Subordination of it to other interests and duties.

From The Ancient Regime by Durand, John