Subaltern Definition

sŭb-ôltərn, sŭbəl-tûrn
subalterns
noun
subalterns
A subordinate.
Webster's New World
A person who is marginalized and oppressed by the dominant culture, especially in a colonial context.
American Heritage
Such people considered as a group.
American Heritage
A subaltern officer.
Webster's New World
A subaltern proposition.
Webster's New World
adjective
Subordinate; of lower rank.
Webster's New World
Holding an army commission below that of captain.
Webster's New World
Designating a proposition that is implied by another proposition but does not imply it.
A particular proposition is subaltern to a corresponding universal proposition.
Webster's New World
(logic) Asserting only a part of what is asserted in a related proposition.
Wiktionary

Other Word Forms of Subaltern

Noun

Singular:
subaltern
Plural:
subalterns

Origin of Subaltern

  • French subalterne from Old French from Late Latin subalternus Latin sub- sub- Latin alternus alternate (from alter other al-1 in Indo-European roots)

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From Late Latin subalternus, from Latin sub- + alternus, from alter.

    From Wiktionary

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