Vocabulary - Today's Word "subaltern"

ArcaMax Publishing > Knowledge > Vocabulary

Your email address is safe with us. View our Privacy policy.

Vocabulary Hangman:

Try our FREE ArcaMax Vocabulary Hangman Game

The Funnies:

Get free jokes, comics, and more! See them all on
our funnies page

FREE ArcaMax Toolbar:

Get free "Vocabulary" headlines on the ArcaMax Toolbar!

Today's Word "subaltern"

subaltern \suhb-OL-tuhrn; SUHB-uhl-tuhrn\ (adjective) - 1 : Ranked or ranged below; subordinate; inferior. 2 : (Chiefly British) Ranking as a junior officer; being below the rank of captain. 3 : (Logic) Asserting only a part of what is asserted in a related proposition.

(noun) - 1 : A person holding a subordinate position. 2 : (Chiefly British) A commissioned military officer below the rank of captain. 3 : (Logic) A subaltern proposition.

"At the gates of the fortress, Fouquet was fretting and fuming in his carriage as he awaited the return of the subaltern, who finally came back in a rather sulky mood." -- Alexandre Dumas, 'The Man in the Iron Mask'

Subaltern derives from Late Latin subalternus, "subordinate," from Latin sub-, "under" + Latin alternus, "alternate," from alter, "other."

This news arrived on: 08/25/2008

Share this Story