subject

English Online Dictionary. What means subject‎? What does subject mean?

English

Etymology 1

From Middle English subget, from Old French suget, from Latin subiectus (“lying under or near, adjacent, also subject, exposed”), as a noun, subiectus (“a subject, an inferior”), subiectum (“the subject of a proposition”), past participle of subiciō (“throw, lay, place”), from sub (“under, at the foot of”) + iaciō (“throw, hurl”), as a calque of Ancient Greek ὑποκείμενον (hupokeímenon).

Pronunciation

• enPR: sŭbʹjĕkt, IPA^(key): /ˈsʌb.d͡ʒɛkt/
• (also) (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈsʌb.d͡ʒɪkt/
• Hyphenation: sub‧ject

Adjective

subject (comparative more subject, superlative most subject)

1. Likely to be affected by or to experience something.
2. Conditional upon something; used with to.

3. Placed or situated under; lying below, or in a lower situation.
4. Placed under the power of another; owing allegiance to a particular sovereign or state.
   • , Book I

     Esau was never subject to Jacob.

Derived terms

Translations

Etymology 2

From Latin subiectus (“a subject, an inferior”), subiectum (“the subject of a proposition”), past participle of subiciō (“throw, lay, place”), from sub (“under, at the foot of”) + iaciō (“throw, hurl”).

Pronunciation

• enPR: sŭbʹjĕkt, IPA^(key): /ˈsʌb.d͡ʒɛkt/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈsʌb.d͡ʒɪkt/
• Hyphenation: sub‧ject

Noun

subject (plural subjects)

2. (grammar) The noun, pronoun or noun phrase about whom the statement is made. In active clauses with verbs denoting an action, the subject is the actor. In clauses in the passive voice the subject is the target of the action.

   Coordinate terms: object; agent, patient, rheme, theme

3. By faulty generalisation from a clause's subject being coinstantiated with one: an actor or agent; one who takes action. The following example would mean that the subject subjects its subjects to its rule:

4. The main topic of a paper, work of art, discussion, field of study, etc.
5. A particular area of study.
6. A citizen in a monarchy.
7. A person ruled over by another, especially a monarch or state authority.
8. (music) The main theme or melody, especially in a fugue.
9. A human, animal or an inanimate object that is being examined, treated, analysed, etc.
10. (philosophy) A being that has subjective experiences, subjective consciousness, or a relationship with another entity.
11. (logic) That of which something is stated.
12. (mathematics) The variable in terms of which an expression is defined.

Synonyms

• (discussion): matter, topic

Derived terms

Translations

See also

• object
• predicate

Etymology 3

From Medieval Latin subiectō, iterative of subiciō (“throw, lay, place”), from sub (“under, at the foot of”) + iaciō (“throw, hurl”).

Pronunciation

• enPR: səb-jĕktʹ, IPA^(key): /səbˈd͡ʒɛkt/, /sʌbˈd͡ʒɛkt/
• Rhymes: -ɛkt

Verb

subject (third-person singular simple present subjects, present participle subjecting, simple past and past participle subjected)

1. (transitive, construed with to) To cause (someone or something) to undergo a particular experience, especially one that is unpleasant or unwanted.

3. (transitive) To make subordinate or subservient; to subdue or enslave.

Synonyms

• underbring

Translations

Further reading

• “subject”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
• “subject”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
• “subject”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.

Dutch

Etymology

Chiefly a borrowing from Latin subiectum. Earlier Middle Dutch subject was masculine.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /sʏpˈjɛkt/, /sʏˈbjɛkt/
• Hyphenation: sub‧ject
• Rhymes: -ɛkt

Noun

subject n (plural subjecten, diminutive subjectje n)

1. subject (theme or topic)

   Synonym: onderwerp

2. (grammar) subject

   Synonym: onderwerp

3. (philosophy) subject, ego
4. someone or something that is the topic of a treatment or analysis

Derived terms

• subjectief

Related terms

• sujet