subject
1sub·ject
noun \ˈsəb-jikt, -(ˌ)jekt\Definition of SUBJECT
1
: one that is placed under authority or control: as a : vassal b (1) : one subject to a monarch and governed by the monarch's law (2) : one who lives in the territory of, enjoys the protection of, and owes allegiance to a sovereign power or state
2
a : that of which a quality, attribute, or relation may be affirmed or in which it may inhere b : substratum; especially : material or essential substance c : the mind, ego, or agent of whatever sort that sustains or assumes the form of thought or consciousness
3
a : a department of knowledge or learning b : motive, cause c (1) : one that is acted on <the helpless subject of their cruelty> (2) : an individual whose reactions or responses are studied (3) : a dead body for anatomical study and dissection d (1) : something concerning which something is said or done <the subject of the essay> (2) : something represented or indicated in a work of art e (1) : the term of a logical proposition that denotes the entity of which something is affirmed or denied; also : the entity denoted (2) : a word or word group denoting that of which something is predicated f : the principal melodic phrase on which a musical composition or movement is based
— sub·ject·less \-ləs\ adjective
See Examples of SUBJECT
- The new museum is the subject of an article in today's paper.
- Death is a difficult subject that few people like to talk about.
- I need to break the news to her, but I'm not sure how to bring up the subject.
- If you're interested in linguistics, I know an excellent book on the subject.
- an excellent book on the subject of linguistics
- These meetings would be much shorter if we could keep him from getting off the subject.
- The morality of capital punishment is a frequent subject of debate.
- Chemistry was my favorite subject in high school.
- The classes cover a variety of subject areas, including mathematics and English.
Origin of SUBJECT
Middle English suget, subget, from Anglo-French, from Latin subjectus one under authority & subjectum subject of a proposition, from masculine & neuter respectively of subjectus, past participle of subicere to subject, literally, to throw under, from sub- + jacere to throw — more at jet
First Known Use: 14th century
Related to SUBJECT
Related Words: subject matter; talking point; count, idea, point, purpose; consideration, issue, problem; body, bulk, burden, centerpiece, core, crux, essence, fundamental, generality, gist, grist, heart, kernel, keynote, main, marrow, mass, net, nub, nubbin, nucleus, pith, pivot, purport, quick, staple, substance, sum; basis; bottom, essential, essentiality; affair, argument, debate
See Synonym Discussion at citizen
Rhymes with SUBJECT
abject, advect, affect, aspect, bisect, cathect, collect, confect, connect, convect, correct, cowl-necked, defect, deflect, deject, detect, direct, Dordrecht, effect, eject, elect, erect, ewe-necked, expect, goosenecked, infect, inflect, inject, insect, inspect, neglect, object, pandect, porrect, prefect, prelect, project, prospect, protect, refect, reflect, reject, resect, respect, ring-necked, roll-necked, select, stiff-necked, suspect, traject, transect, trisect, Utrecht, V-necked
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Previous Word in the Dictionary: subjacent
All Words Near: subject
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