I. ˈsəbjə̇kt, -jēkt sometimes -ˌjekt noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, suget, subget, from Middle French, from Latin subjectus subject, inferior (from subjectus, past participle) & subjectum foundation, subject of a proposition (translation of Greek hypokeimenon ), from neuter of subjectus, past participle of subjicere, subicere to bring under, throw under, from sub- + -jicere, -icere (from jacere to throw) — more at jet
1. : one that is placed under the authority, dominion, control, or influence of someone or something: as
a. : one bound in allegiance or service to a feudal superior : vassal
b.
(1) : one subject to a monarch or ruler and governed by his law
(2) : one who lives in the territory of, enjoys the protection of, and owes allegiance to a sovereign power or state — compare citizen 2
c. obsolete : a person under the spiritual oversight, care, or direction of a religious superior
d. obsolete : those who owe allegiance to a particular sovereign or rule : citizenry
2.
a. obsolete : the material from which a thing is formed : material substance
b.
(1) : that of which a quality, attribute, or relation may be affirmed or in which it may inhere : the theme of a discourse or predication : the identical reference of related thoughts : a material either physical or ideal in which differences may appear
(2) : substratum ; especially : substantive reality that is material or essential being
(3) : something that sustains or is embodied in thought or consciousness : the thinking agent : the mind, ego, or reality of whatever sort that supports or assumes the form of mental operations — distinguished from object
the individuality of the organism corresponds to, though it is not necessarily identical with, the psychological subject , while to the environment and its changes corresponds the objective continuum — James Ward
3. : something that forms a basis (as for action, study, discussion, or use): as
a.
(1) : the underlying theme or topic of a branch of knowledge or study
the subject of mathematics is quantities and their manipulations
(2) : a branch of knowledge or study especially when arranged and formulated for teaching as an integrated part in a system of studies
each pupil took courses in five subjects including electives
found the subject of chemistry difficult
b. : reason , motive , cause
a subject of dispute
gave them no subject for complaint
c.
(1) : one that is acted upon (as in an operation or process)
a subject of debate
the helpless subject of his cruelty
(2) : an individual whose reactions or responses are studied (as in the testing of a physiological or psychological phenomenon)
the subjects of a nutritional experiment
the subject was cued to run a maze
(3) : a dead body for anatomical study and dissection
d.
(1) : something concerning which something is said or done : a thing or person treated of
let's say no more on that subject
treated religion as the first and greatest of subjects
the subject of your essay
a subject worthy of a great dramatist
(2) : something (as an incident, scene, figure, group) that is represented or indicated in a work of art
e.
(1) or subject term : the term of a logical proposition that denotes what the proposition is about ; also : matter denoted by such a term : the topic of an affirmation or denial — contrasted with predicate
(2) : a word or word group denoting that of which something is affirmed or predicated : a term that is construed with or without modifiers as the nominative of a verb and is grammatically either a noun or a word, phrase, or clause used as a noun equivalent
f.
(1) : the principal theme or melodic phrase on which a musical composition or movement is based
(2) : the antecedent or dux of a contrapuntal work (as a fugue or canon)
g. : a plant having particular horticultural qualities or suitable for a definite site or effect
make good hedge subjects
a difficult subject only suitable for the expert with fully equipped greenhouse
Synonyms: see citizen
II. adjective
Etymology: Middle English suget, subget, from Middle French, from Latin subjectus, past participle
1. : falling under or submitting to the power or dominion of another
children subject to their parents
as
a. : owing allegiance to or being a subject of a particular sovereign or state
a colony is subject to the mother country
a subject race
b. : subjected
c. : obedient , submissive
be subject to the laws
2.
a. : suffering a particular liability or exposure
subject to very severe draughts
subject to temptation
b. : prone , disposed
very subject to colds
3. archaic : situated under or below : subjacent
4. : likely to be conditioned, affected, or modified in some indicated way : having a contingent relation to something and usually dependent on such relation for final form, validity, or significance
democratic representatives whose acts are subject to discussion and criticism — M.R.Cohen
a treaty subject to ratification
Synonyms: see liable
III. səbˈjekt sometimes |səb|jekt verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English subjecten, from Latin subjectare to put under, freq. of subjicere, subicere to bring under — more at subject (n.)
transitive verb
1.
a. : to bring under control or dominion : subjugate
subjecting primitive peoples to colonial rule
b. : to reduce to subservience or submission : make (as oneself) amenable to the discipline and control of a superior
a servant should subject himself to his master
2.
a. : to make liable : predispose
his conduct subjected him to needless suffering
b. : to make accountable : submit
refused to subject himself to their judgment
c. : to make (a piece of commercial paper) subject to discount
3. obsolete : to cause to lie beneath or below
4. : to cause to undergo or submit to : make submit to a particular action or effect : expose
hated to subject his wife to such company
unwilling to subject himself to any inconvenience
intransitive verb
obsolete : to be or become subject