a. (sb.) [ad. late L. subalternātus (subalternātum genus in Boethius), pa. pple. of subalternāre: see SUBALTERN v. and -ATE2.] A. adj.

1

  † 1.  Subordinate, inferior. Also const. to: Subordinate or subservient to. Obs.

2

1432–50.  trans. Higden (Rolls), III. 123. iiij. principalle realmes,… x. other realmes, subalternate to theyme.

3

1595.  in 12th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. IX. 173. What ministers of state and subalternat governors, as counsaile and magistrats.

4

1611.  in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. I. 546. In putting so muche difference between an absolute king and a subalternate Queen.

5

1638.  R. Baker, trans. Balzac’s Lett. (vol. II.), 79. As though the present time, were but subalternate to the future.

6

1670.  Clarke, Nat. Hist. Nitre, 51. Medicine being a subalternate Art to Philosophy.

7

1686.  F. Spence, trans. Varillas’ Ho. Medicis, 15. The Enditement was drawn up by the Subalternate Judges.

8

1701.  Norris, Ideal World, I. ii. 104. So only the subalternate sciences suppose their objects, as taking them from the superior science wherein they are proved.

9

1704.  Phil. Trans., XXV. 1702. An account of the several kinds of subalternate Species of Plants.

10

1874.  in Manning, Ess. Relig. & Lit., III. 317. Theology is a science subalternate to Revelation.

11

  † 2.  Successive, succeeding by turns. Obs.

12

1706.  Phillips (ed. Kersey), Subaltern or Subalternate, that succeeds by turns.

13

  † b.  Logic. = SUBALTERN a. 1 b.

14

1658.  E. Phillips, Myst. Love (1685), 285. The subalternate genus, as also the subalternate species, is that which is the species of this, but the genus of that.

15

  3.  [A new formation from SUB- 20 d and ALTERNATE a.] Nat. Hist. Alternate, but with a tendency to become opposite.

16

1829.  Loudon, Encycl. Plants, 571. Leaves pinnat[ifid]: segm[ents] stalked subalternate.

17

1846.  Dana, Zooph. (1848), 655. Polyps few and at distant intervals on the branches, subalternate.

18

1851.  Mantell, Petrifactions, iii. § 5. 309. The subalternate arrangement and reversed position of the upper and lower series of teeth.

19

  B.  sb. Logic. A particular proposition.

20

1826, 1867.  [see SUBALTERNANT].

21

  Hence † Subalternately adv., subordinately, successively.

22

1606.  B. Barnes, Foure Bks. Offices, 19. Subalternately respecting the purse.

23

1727.  Bailey (vol. II.), Subalternately,… successively.

24