adj., n., & v.
adj. (usu. foll. by to) of inferior importance or rank; secondary, subservient.
n. a person working under another's control or orders.
v.tr. (usu. foll. by to) 1 make subordinate; treat or regard as of minor importance. 2 make subservient. subordinate clause a clause serving as an adjective, adverb, or noun in a main sentence because of its position or a preceding conjunction. subordinately adv. subordination n. subordinative adj.
[ med.L subordinare, subordinat- (as SUB-, L ordinare ordain) ]