prefix
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin, under, below, from below, up, near, further, after, from sub, preposition — more at up
1. : under : beneath : below
sub soil
sub cutaneous
sub pier
sub dominant
sub hymenial
2.
a. : subordinate : secondary : next lower than or inferior to
sub center
sub freshman
sub genus
b. : subordinate portion of : subdivision of : derived from
sub committee
sub culture
sub district
sub science
also : with repetition (as of a process) so as to form, stress, or deal with subordinate parts or relations
sub classify
sub let
sub branch
sub contract
3.
a. : somewhat : slightly : less than completely or perfectly : inadequately : less than normally
sub acid
sub dominant
sub ovate
sub arcuate
sub clinical
sub acute
sub convulsive
b.
(1) : containing only a relatively small proportion or less than the normal amount of (such) an element or radical
sub oxide
— not used systematically; compare prot-
(2) : basic — in names of salts
sub acetate
sub nitrate
— not used systematically
4.
a. : almost : nearly
sub alate
sub caulescent
sub abdominal
Sub akhmimic
b. : falling nearly in the category of and often adjoining : bordering upon
sub adult
sub arid
sub arctic
c. : immediately following : after
sub apostolic
sub -Mycenaean