Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Sub-

Sub-

.
[L.
sub
under, below; akin to Gr. [GREEK], Skr.
upa
to, on, under, over. Cf.
Hypo-
,
Super-
.]
1.
A prefix signifying under, below, beneath, and hence often, in an inferior position or degree, in an imperfect or partial state, as in subscribe, substruct, subserve, subject, subordinate, subacid, subastringent, subgranular, suborn. Sub- in Latin compounds often becomes sum- before m, sur before r, and regularly becomes suc-, suf-, sug-, and sup- before c, f, g, and p respectively. Before c, p, and t it sometimes takes form sus- (by the dropping of b from a collateral form, subs-).
2.
(Chem.)
A prefix denoting that the ingredient (of a compound) signified by the term to which it is prefixed,is present in only a small proportion, or less than the normal amount;
as,
sub
sulphide,
sub
oxide, etc.
Prefixed to the name of a salt it is equivalent to basic;
as,
sub
acetate or
basic
acetate
.
[Obsoles.]

Definition 2024


sub-

sub-

See also: sub and sub.

English

Alternative forms

  • subs- (by-form)

Prefix

sub-

  1. under, beneath
    subterranean
    submarine
  2. subsidiary, secondary
    subplot
  3. almost, nearly
    subhuman
    suborbicular

Usage notes

In Latin, the following sound changes affected "sub-" and cause English borrowings from Latin which contain this prefix to have different forms. Words formed in English using the prefix "sub-" do not exhibit these sound changes. (Combination with 's' involved elision and the other changes involved assimilation.)

Antonyms

Derived terms

<a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs14 CategoryTreeLabelCategory' href='/wiki/Category:English_words_prefixed_with_sub-'>English words prefixed with sub-</a>

Translations

References

  1. http://www.affixes.org/s/sub-.html

Dutch

Pronunciation

Prefix

sub-

  1. sub-

French

Prefix

sub-

  1. sub-

Derived terms

<a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs14 CategoryTreeLabelCategory' href='/wiki/Category:French_words_prefixed_with_sub-'>French words prefixed with sub-</a>

Italian

Alternative forms

  • sud- (before a letter "d")

Prefix

sub-

  1. sub- (all senses)

Latin

Alternative forms

  • suc- (before c)
  • suf- (before f)
  • sug- (before g)
  • sup- (before p)
  • sur- (before r)
  • su- (before sp)

Prefix

sub-

  1. sub-

Portuguese

Prefix

sub-

  1. sub- (under, beneath)
  2. sub- (subsidiary, secondary)

Synonyms


Romanian

Prefix

sub-

  1. sub-

Spanish

Prefix

sub-

  1. sub-

Synonyms