Definition of subaltern

< subalpine

subalternate >

sub·al·tern    (sb-ôltrn, sbl-tûrn) KEY 

ADJECTIVE:

1. Lower in position or rank; secondary.
2. Chiefly British Holding a military rank just below that of captain.
3. Logic In the relation of a particular proposition to a universal with the same subject, predicate, and quality.

NOUN:

1. A subordinate.
2. Chiefly British A subaltern officer.
3. Logic A subaltern proposition.

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ETYMOLOGY:
French subalterne, from Old French, from Late Latin subalternus : Latin sub-, sub- + Latin alternus, alternate (from alter, other; see al-¹ in Indo-European roots)