Chem. [SUB- 7.] A constituent part of an atom.
1880. Cleminshaw, trans. Wurtz’ Atom. The., 51. A primordial matter the sub-atoms of which were grouped in different numbers to form the chemical atoms of hydrogen and the various simple bodies.
1904. A. J. Balfour, Refl. New Th. Matter, 9. There are those … who think that the elementary atom of the chemist … is but a connected system of monads or sub-atoms.
Hence Subatomic a.
1903. Edin. Rev., Oct., 385. Sub-atomic physics.
1905. Athenæum, 27 May, 661. Experiments have been made with sub-atomic particles from one or other of these sources.
