[ad. late L. subordinātio, -ōnem, n. of action f. subordināre to SUBORDINATE. Cf. F. subordination (17th c.), It. subordinazione, etc.]
1. The arrangement of persons or things in a series of successively dependent ranks or degrees. † Also, an instance of this, a graded series of individuals or orders of beings. Now rare or Obs.
1616. Bullokar, Engl. Expos., Subordination, an appointing or placing of one thing vnder another.
1646. H. Lawrence, Commun. Angels, 23. In this subordination, Angells come next to have an influence upon rationall creatures.
1672. Gale, Crt. Gentiles, I. I. i. (ed. 2), 2. Doth not Aristotle … prove, that in Subordination of Causes there cannot be a progresse into infinit[ud]e?
1684. H. More, Answer, 33. As if true Christianity took away all subordination of Ranks and Degrees in the world.
1750. Johnson, Rambler, No. 9, ¶ 8. The endless subordination of animal life.
1758. J. Dalrymple, Ess. Feudal Property (ed. 2), 200. The subordination of superior and vassal having soon ceased to be strict.
a. 1804. W. Gilpin, Serm. (1809), I. iv. 39. God hath bestowed … different talents on different men.… Now this subordination … pervades all the works of God.
1837. Whewell, Hist. Induct. Sci., III. 347. By arranging them [sc. animals] according to a subordination unknown to Aristotle himself.
1864. Bowen, Logic, iv. 89. The Relations … arising from the higher or lower position of a Concept in the series or hierarchy to which it belongs, are all denominated Relations of Subordination.
† b. The dependence of one part upon another in a piece of mechanism. Obs. rare.
1751. Johnson, Rambler, No. 126, ¶ 7. One bar was secured by another with such intricacy of subordination—that he was himself not always able to disengage them in the proper method.
† c. A rank in a graded series. Obs.
a. 1672. Wilkins, Nat. Relig., II. iv. (1675), 333. Those several degrees and subordinations required to the order of the Universe.
1709. Swift, Adv. Relig., Wks. 1755, II. I. 104. Persons, who in their several subordinations would be obliged to follow the examples of their superiors.
1712. Steele, Spect., No. 438, ¶ 4. All the different Species and Subordinations of the Angry.
1751. Johnson, Rambler, No. 166, ¶ 5. An insolent leveller,… eager … to confound the subordinations of society.
2. The condition of being subordinate, inferior or dependent; subjection, subservience.
1651. Hobbes, Leviathan, III. xlii. 315. From the Subordination of a Government, cannot be inferred the Subjection of the Governor.
1710. Steele, Tatler, No. 69, ¶ 1. If we take too great an Idea of the Eminence of our Superiors, or Subordination of our Inferiors.
1795. M. Davies, Athen. Brit., I. 127. By making use of that dangerous Term, Subordination, in explaining the eternal Filiation of the Divinity of our Saviour.
1788. Gibbon, Decl. & F., liii. V. 507. Their independent spirit disdained the yoke of subordination.
1855. Brewster, Newton, II. xxii. 284. It might have been expected that a man of high principle would have kept in subordination his feelings as a rival.
1897. C. Gore, in Westm. Gaz., 13 April, 6/2. That … was no servile relationship, for subordination did not involve inferiority.
1910. Encycl. Brit. (ed. 11), XIII. 317/2. Without explaining the reason for the superior honour of the Saltire or for the subordination of the Quarter.
¶ Under subordination: under control.
1769. Goldsm., Hist. Rome (1786), I. 373. The forces on the side of Marius were the most numerous, but those of Sylla better united and more under subordination.
1803. Marian Moore, Lascelles, III. 190. Those whose actions are under the subordination of propriety.
b. Const. to. Phr. in († with) subordination to.
a. 1600. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., VIII. iv. § 6 (1648), 190. That Civill Authority is from God, but not immediately through Christ, nor with any subordination to God.
1687. Dryden, Hind & P., II. 371. Nor can a council national decide, But with subordination to her Guide.
1766. Blackstone, Comm., II. 252. Escheat … operates in subordination to this more antient and superior law of forfeiture.
1868. Milman, St. Paul’s, xvii. 400. Porticos, large enough for effect, yet in humble subordination to the vast fabric which they enclose.
1884. trans. Lotze’s Logic, 91. The ground of all inferences is the subordination of the particular to the universal.
1884. Law Rep., 14 Q. B. Div. 266. The local board … can only exercise their rights in subordination to the market rights.
† c. Subordinate agency. Obs. rare.
a. 1676. Hale, Prim. Orig. Man., 332. The like determination of the same Will was sufficient to form Man out of the Dust of the ground, without taking in a subordination or instrumentality of Angels.
d. Gram. The dependence of one clause upon another.
1857. J. W. Gibbs, Philol. Studies, 115. When two propositions … are so united into a single thought or sentiment, that one proposition … forms the complement of the other proposition, the former proposition is said to be subordinate to the latter, and this kind of union is called subordination.
1892. L. Kellner, Hist. Outl. Eng. Syntax, 54. The first step towards the development of grammatical subordination was the use of a pronoun or a demonstrative adverb connecting the two sentences.
3. The condition of being subservient to some end, object or need.
1673. Stillingfl., Serm., I. iv. 67. All this it doth by way of subordination to the great end of it, which is the promoting mens eternal happiness.
1790. Bewick, Hist. Quadr., 21. A striking example of this subordination to the interests of mankind.
1839. Penny Cycl., XIII. 177/1. (Kant), The harmonious co-ordination of all things and their subordination to a general end.
1862. H. Spencer, First Princ., I. i. § 2 (1875), 9. A certain subordination of individual actions to social requirements.
4. The condition of being duly submissive to authority or discipline; submission or subjection to the rule of a superior officer or the government of a higher power.
1736. Butler, Anal., I. v. 122. The Subordination to which they [children] are accustomed in domestic life.
1760. Caut. & Adv. Off. Army, 8. Subordination must be preserved in the Army.
1760–2. Goldsm., Cit. W., xlii. Capable of behaving with just subordination to our superiors.
1838. Prescott, Ferd. & Is., II. viii. (1854), II. 120. They were without subordination, patience, industry, or any of the regular habits demanded for success in such an enterprise.
1857. Ruskin, Pol. Econ. Art., 8–9. There has been … wilfulness when there should have been subordination.
5. Archit. The act or fact of forming arches into ‘orders.’
a. 1878. G. Scott, Lect. Archit. (1879), II. 75. The sub-ordination of arches, by means of which, instead of going square through the thickness of a wall, they recede in orders or arched rims, each narrower than that above it.
1910. Encycl. Brit. (ed. 11), II. 402/1. The subordination of arches (arches built in rings, or orders, recessed one within the other).
¶ 6. Misused for SUBORNATION.
1640. Bp. Hall, Episc., II. xi. 138. Charge him with corruption, and subordination.
1643. Baker, Chron., Hen. VI. (1653), 273. Unlawful proceedings are used by subordination of witnesses, embracery of jurors.
1694. S. Bethel’s Provid. God, 76. The Subordination of Perjury.
