sub-

Forms

sub-^[1] The b is often assimilated before c, f, g, m, p, r (succēdō, sufficiō, suggerō, summoveō, supplicō, surgō); it usually drops before sc and sp (suspiciō), and before t the form is usually sus- (for subs-), also in suscipiō and suscitō.^[2][3]

Etymology

It is the preposition sub (“under”) used as a prefix,^[2][1] inherited from Proto-Italic *supo (“down, below; upwards”),^[3] from Proto-Indo-European *upó (“under, from below”).^[3][1] The ⟨s-⟩, which Italic shares with Greek, is not explained.^[3]

Cognate with Umbrian sub- as a verbal prefix, Ancient Greek ὑπό (hupó, “under”), Sanskrit उप (úpa, “towards, under”) and Old Irish fo (“under”).^[3]

Semantic evolution

Added to verbs it gives the senses of the preposition: position under something, movement down or under, movement up from below, and position or movement close to something; it also marks substitution.^[2] Before verbs and adjectives it weakens the meaning (“somewhat, slightly”), and before nouns it marks a lower rank.^[2][1] In transferred senses it can mean “secretly” or “in a bad sense, falsely”.^[1]

Meanings

Prefix

1. Under, underneath (substruō, sublinō).^[2][1]
2. Down, downwards, to a place under (sublābor).^[2][1]
3. Up from below, upwards (subdūcō, sublevō).^[2][3]
4. Close to, next, after (subiungō, subsequor).^[2]
5. In place of another, of substitution (sufficiō).^[2][1]
6. Secretly, stealthily; falsely.^[1]
7. With adjectives and verbs: somewhat, slightly (subniger, subdubitō).^[2][1]
8. With nouns: subordinate, of lower rank (succenturiō).^[2]

Word family

• subeō
• subiciō
• subdūcō
• sublevō
• suscipiō
• suscitō
• succēdō
• sufficiō
• suggerō
• surgō
• sustineō
• subsequor
• subdolus

Related words

• subtus
• subter
• super
• supīnus
• English sub-

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d e f de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill