subaltern
/sə-ˈbȯl-tərn How to pronounce subaltern (audio) especially British ˈsə-bəl-tərn/ (ame, mw) · /ˈsʌbltən/ (bre, ipa) · /səˈbɔːltərn/ (ame, ipa)
subaltern — adjective
- subalternpositive
- more subalterncomparative
- most subalternsuperlative
1. placed lower in a chain of power or importance, so that it answers to something
placed lower in a chain of power or importance, so that it answers to something above it.
In the old ministry, subaltern clerks carried files to the deputy secretary.
subaltern clerks — workers in a lower layer of authority
The treaty left local courts in a subaltern position beneath the regional governor.
Yuna argued that village councils should no longer remain subaltern bodies in budget decisions.
After the merger, the design team became subaltern to the larger marketing department.
- subordinate
Much more common everyday word for having lower rank or power
- lower-ranking
More literal and specific to official hierarchies
- dependent
Stresses reliance on something stronger, not always formal rank
文法句型
be subaltern to + noun phrase
subaltern + plural noun
用法筆記
Usually seen in formal discussions of hierarchy, politics, or history rather than in everyday office talk. Distinguish from sense 1, which is a technical logic term.
2. describing a particular statement in traditional logic that stands under a broad
describing a particular statement in traditional logic that stands under a broader universal statement.
In Otis's logic notes, 'Some planets have rings' was marked as subaltern.
subaltern = a particular statement paired with a universal one
Professor Lin wrote the subaltern proposition beneath 'All metals conduct heat' on the board.
subaltern proposition — standard classroom logic phrase
During class, Nila linked a subaltern claim to the universal statement above it.
The diagram showed which subaltern sentence followed from each universal sentence.
- particular
The broader logic term for a statement about some members of a class
- non-universal
Describes the contrast with universal statements, but is less technical
- universal
A statement that applies to every member of the class
文法句型
subaltern proposition
subaltern statement
用法筆記
Only used in traditional logic. Distinguish from sense 2, which describes people, groups, or institutions that occupy a lower place in a hierarchy.
subaltern — noun
- subalternsingular
- subalternsplural
1. a junior commissioned officer in the army, especially one serving below captain
a junior commissioned officer in the army, especially one serving below captain level.
The colonel asked the young subaltern to deliver the map before dawn.
young subaltern — junior officer receiving orders
After graduation from Sandhurst, William joined the regiment as a subaltern.
join the regiment as a subaltern — common historical pattern
Letters from the front show Paloma serving as a nervous subaltern in Burma.
The captain trusted every subaltern in the unit to brief new recruits.
- junior officer
A broader modern label for someone at the lower officer ranks
- lieutenant
A specific rank that many subalterns hold, not the whole category
- captain
A clearly higher rank than a subaltern
- senior officer
Any officer above the junior commissioned ranks
文法句型
a subaltern in + regiment
serve as a subaltern
用法筆記
Chiefly British and historical. It usually refers to the lowest commissioned officer ranks in the army, and modern everyday English more often uses lieutenant or junior officer.