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Definition of subordinate verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

subordinate

verb
 
/səˈbɔːdɪneɪt/
 
/səˈbɔːrdɪneɪt/
[often passive] (formal)
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they subordinate
 
/səˈbɔːdɪneɪt/
 
/səˈbɔːrdɪneɪt/
he / she / it subordinates
 
/səˈbɔːdɪneɪts/
 
/səˈbɔːrdɪneɪts/
past simple subordinated
 
/səˈbɔːdɪneɪtɪd/
 
/səˈbɔːrdɪneɪtɪd/
past participle subordinated
 
/səˈbɔːdɪneɪtɪd/
 
/səˈbɔːrdɪneɪtɪd/
-ing form subordinating
 
/səˈbɔːdɪneɪtɪŋ/
 
/səˈbɔːrdɪneɪtɪŋ/
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  1. to treat somebody/something as less important than somebody/something else
    • be subordinated (to somebody/something) Safety considerations were subordinated to commercial interests.
    • The needs of the individual are completely subordinated to those of the state.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • firmly
    • completely
    • totally
    preposition
    • to
    See full entry
    Word Originlate Middle English: from medieval Latin subordinatus ‘placed in an inferior rank’, from Latin sub- ‘below’ + ordinare ‘ordain’.
See subordinate in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee subordinate in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
previously
adverb
 
 
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