[sub.al.tern] adj [LL subalternus, fr. L sub- + alternus alternate, fr. alter other (of two)--more at alter] (1570) 1: particular with reference to a related universal proposition ""some S is P" is a ~ proposition to "all S is P""
2: subordinate
[2]subaltern n (1605) 1: a person holding a subordinate position; specif: a junior officer (as in the British army)
2: a particular proposition that follows immediately from a universal