Dictionary Word of the Day

subaltern \suhb-OL-tuhrn; SUHB-uhl-tuhrn\, adjective:
1. Ranked or ranged below; subordinate; inferior.
2. (Chiefly British) Ranking as a junior officer; being below the rank of captain.
3. (Logic) Asserting only a part of what is asserted in a related proposition.

noun:
1. A person holding a subordinate position.
2. (Chiefly British) A commissioned military officer below the rank of captain.
3. (Logic) A subaltern proposition.

It's been a while since the Dictionary Word of the Day presented me with a word I've never heard or seen before. I think subaltern will always stay subordinate to subordinate in my vocabulary.

Related Tags: Dictionary Word of the Day

Comments

[missmellifluous]

I know this word but I don't like it very much. It is a harsh word which tells me of war and domination. I associate it with a book I didn't really like: http://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=1512" REL="nofollow">The Barracks by John McGahern. I'm sure the book made a valuable contribution to Irish Literature but I didn't get many of the Catholic references and I found the book quite depressing and tedious in places. It is probably a success because it made me feel like that. ANyway, I associate the word subaltern with this book.