sub English · revision 3984

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=clipping|attested=1696|origins=en subordinate}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /sʌb/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a clipping, at different times, of [[subordinate]],^(OED 1989)^(Hoad 1986) [[subaltern]],^(OED 1989)^(Hoad 1986) [[substitute]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) [[subscription]]^(OED 1989)^(Hoad 1986) and [[submarine]].^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A subordinate: 1696 in the OED.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A subaltern officer was a ''sub'' from 1756,^(OED 1989) a subscription from 1805,^(OED 1989) and a substitute from 1830, first of substitute printers in the United States.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) The verb “to act as a substitute” is from 1853, in Mark Twain's letters.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) An advance on wages, short for subsistence money, is from 1866,^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024) a submarine from 1917,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and in the United States a submarine sandwich from 1955.^(OED 1989) In British use, to sub is also to subedit.^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1696 – a subordinate.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1756 – a subaltern.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1830 – a substitute.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1853 – verb, to substitute.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1866 – an advance on wages.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1917 – a submarine.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1955 – a submarine sandwich.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[substitute]], especially in sport.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A [[submarine]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A submarine sandwich.^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(chiefly British)'' A subscription, or an advance on wages.^(OED 1989)^(SOED 2002)

+ # A subeditor or other subordinate.^(OED 1989)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To act as a substitute.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(chiefly British)'' To subedit.^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[minisub]]

+ * [[subchaser]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[sub judice]]

+ * [[sub voce]]

+ * [[sub-]]

+ * [[substitute]]

+ * [[submarine]]

+ * [[subordinate]]

+ * [[subaltern]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}