Obs. [ad. L. subactiōnem, n. of action f. subact-, subigĕre (see SUBACT pa. pple.).]
1. The action of working up, reducing or kneading.
1626. Bacon, Sylva, § 838. There are of Concoction two Periods; The one Assimilation, or Absolute Conuersion and Subaction; The other Maturation.
1657. Tomlinson, Renou’s Disp., 122. Now Unguents are made one while by the fire,… another while onely by long subaction.
1676. Phil. Trans., II. 771. In order to the subaction and detrusion of the aliments.
1706. Phillips (ed. Kersey), Subaction,… Among Apothecaries, it is us’d for the working or soft’ning of Plaisters.
1822. Good, Study Med., I. 324. The smaller ruminating animals, whose food, from the complexity of the organ, lies for a long time quiescent in a state of subaction.
2. Subjection, subdual. rare–0.
1656. Blount, Glossogr. [citing Bacon; cf. quot. 1626 above].
