Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1400-1500
Language: Medieval Latin
Origin: , past participle of subordinare 'to subordinate', from Latin ordinare; ORDAIN

subordinate

1 adjective
     
sub‧or‧di‧nate1
1 in a less important position than someone else:
a subordinate officer
subordinate to
Women were subordinate to men.
2 less important than something else
subordinate to
These aims were subordinate to the main aims of the mission.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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