— subalternation /sub awl'teuhr nay"sheuhn, -al'-/ , n.
/sub awl"teuhr nit, -al"-/ , adj.
1. subordinate.
2. Bot. placed singly along an axis, but tending to become grouped oppositely.
[ 1400-50; late ME subalternatus (ptp. of subalternare to subordinate), equiv. to subaltern ( us ) SUBALTERN + -atus -ATE 1 ]