[f. late L. subordināt-, pa. ppl. stem of subordināre, f. sub- SUB- 2 + ordināre to order, ORDAIN. Cf. It. subordinare, Sp., Pg. subordinar; F. subordonner.]
1. trans. To bring into a subordinate position; to render subordinate, dependent or subservient; Const. to. Also † occas. (without to) to bring into subjection. Now rare with personal obj.
1597. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. lxxvi. (1617), 409. That what hee worketh, might … be effected by … instruments duely subordinated vnto the power of his owne Spirit. Ibid. (a. 1600), Disc. Justif., § 30. Things … subordinated vnto Christ, by Christ himselfe.
1611. Speed, Hist. Gt. Brit., IX. xii. 154. Subordinating the Maior and Citizens to his gouernement.
1700. Rycaut, Hist. Turks, III. 194. Under him six Agas were subordinated.
a. 1716. South, Serm., Eph. iv. 10 (1744), VII. 23. The stars fight in their courses under his banner, and subordinate their powers to the dictates of his will.
1840. Carlyle, Heroes, vi. (1841), 316. He to whose will our wills are to be subordinated.
1867. Augusta Wilson, Vashti, xxviii. One whose every scheme shall be subordinated to your wishes, your happiness.
1889. Spectator, 9 Nov., 632/2. They [the people of the U.S.] have subordinated their national aspirations to a detestable and narrow-minded race prejudice.
1898. Sweet, New Engl. Gram., II. 33. The stress of the verb is often subordinated to that of its modifier.
2. To place in a lower order, rank, etc.; to make secondary or consider as of less importance or value. Const. to.
1624. Wotton, Elem. Archit., II. 107. As I haue before subordinated Picture, and Sculpture to Architecture, as their Mistresse.
1647. H. More, Poems, 308. That Kestrell kind Of bastard scholars that subordinate The precious choice induements of the mind To wealth.
1678. Cudworth, Intell. Syst., I. iv. 596. Their Intention in thus Subordinating the Hypostases of their Trinity, was [etc.].
1825. Coleridge, Aids Refl. (1848), I. 22. The teacher, who subordinates prudence to virtue, cannot be supposed to dispense with virtue.
1872. Lowell, Milton, Wks. 1890, IV. 84. There is an intolerable egotism which subordinates the sun to the watch in its own fob.
1876. Grant, Burgh Sch. Scot., II. xiii. 377. In the burgh Schools in which music … was not subordinated to the other subjects of instruction.
3. Archit. To arrange (arches) in ‘orders.’
a. 1878. G. Scott, Lect. Archit. (1879), I. 224. This suggested the system of sub-ordinating the rims, or recessing them.
Hence Subordinated ppl. a.
1751. Chambers’ Cycl., s.v. Affection, Affections: according to Aristotle,… are either subordinating, or subordinated.
1899. Westm. Gaz., 29 Dec., 2/1. So vast was his system of subordinated labour, so numerous the army of pupils who worked under his controlling eye.
