[In sense 1, ad. late L. subdistinctio (= Gr. ὑποδτιγμή), f. subdistinguĕre (= Gr. ὑποστίζειν) to put a comma or one of the lesser stops: cf. SUB- 22. In senses 2 and 3, f. SUB- 5 c and 7 b + DISTINCTION.]
† 1. A comma or semicolon. Obs.
1636. B. Jonson, Engl. Gram., II. ix. A Sub-distinction is a meane breathing,… and is marked thus (;).
1825. Fosbroke, Encycl. Antiq., 460. A small pause or subdistinction.
2. A subordinate distinction.
1665. Walton, Life of Hooker (1670), F 5. By needless distinctions and sub-distinctions, to amuse his Hearers.
1727. Narr. Proc. Synods Presbyt. Irel., 111. Here, now, between Parties … there’s a Party-Subdistinction made.
1847–8. De Quincey, Protestantism, Wks. 1858, VIII. 154. Ten thousand evasions, distinctions, and subdistinctions.
1878. F. Harrison, in Fortn. Rev., Nov., 689. He disregarded the important subdistinction of the nature of the sanction and the kind of command.
† 3. A subdivision, subspecies. Obs.
1725. Bradley’s Fam. Dict., s.v. Bohee-Tea, As the Bohee and Green include all other Sub-distinctions, we shall have regard to no other.
1748. J. Hill, Hist. Fossils, 651. The Spatagi is a very comprehensive term, taking in most of the others as subdistinctions.
