English → Latin
“subordinate” in Latin
obnoxiusobliged, indebted; subject to someone, under one's authority; susceptible to danger, misfortune, or weakness, vulnerableparēnsparent, mother, father; founder, ancestorīnferuslow; the souls of the dead; the netherworld, the underworld, Hellsecundussecondsuppōnōto put, place under; to subject (to); to falsify
The English word subordinate itself goes back to Latin ōrdō, through subōrdinātus.
Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864
subordinate adj.
alicui subjectus or obnoxius; alicujus imperio subjectus, parens (subject): inferior (lower in rank, etc.): secundus (second in rank). To act or play a subordinate part in anything, secundas tantum aut tertias (sc. partes) agere in aliqua re.
subordinate v.
subjicere: supponere (e.g., a species to a genus). ☞ Subordinare is not Latin; and subjungere, subnectere = to subjoin, to make co-ordinate. To subordinate one’s own interests to the public good, reipublicae commoda privatis necessitatibus potiora habere (Cic.): to be subordinate, alicui rei subjectum esse or subessc; inferiorem esse aliqua re (to be under or lower); satellitem et ministrum (or ministram) esse alicujus rei (to be in the relation of servant or assistant); alicui rei obedire debere (to be bound to obey).
Quick answer
- What is the Latin word for subordinate?
- The usual Latin words for “subordinate” are obnoxius, parēns, īnferus; also secundus, suppōnō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.
Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.