- that which thinks, feels, perceives, intends, etc., as contrasted with the objects of thought, feeling, etc.
- the self or ego.
verb (used with object)
Origin of subject
Synonyms for subject
Examples from the Web for unsubjected
Historical Examples of unsubjected
Hungary was declared to be a free, independent and unsubjected kingdom governed by its own laws and customs.
- the predominant theme or topic, as of a book, discussion, etc
- (in combination)subject-heading
- that which thinks or feels as opposed to the object of thinking and feeling; the self or the mind
- a substance as opposed to its attributes
- the term of a categorial statement of which something is predicated
- the reference or denotation of the subject term of a statement. The subject of John is tall is not the name John, but John himself
adjective (ˈsʌbdʒɪkt) (usually postpositive and foll by to)
verb (səbˈdʒɛkt) (tr)
Word Origin for subject
early 14c., "person under control or dominion of another," from Old French suget, subget "a subject person or thing" (12c.), from Latin subiectus, noun use of past participle of subicere "to place under," from sub "under" (see sub-) + combining form of iacere "to throw" (see jet (v.)). In 14c., sugges, sogetis, subgit, sugette; form re-Latinized in English 16c.
Meaning "person or thing that may be acted upon" is recorded from 1590s. Meaning "subject matter of an art or science" is attested from 1540s, probably short for subject matter (late 14c.), which is from Medieval Latin subjecta materia, a loan translation of Greek hypokeimene hyle (Aristotle), literally "that which lies beneath." Likewise some specific uses in logic and philosophy are borrowed directly from Latin subjectum "foundation or subject of a proposition," a loan-translation of Aristotle's to hypokeimenon. Grammatical sense is recorded from 1630s. The adjective is attested from early 14c.
late 14c., "to make (a person or nation) subject to another by force," also "to render submissive or dependent," from Latin subjectare, from the root of subject (n.). Meaning "to lay open or expose to (some force or occurrence)" is recorded from 1540s. Related: Subjected; subjecting.
A part of every sentence. The subject tells what the sentence is about; it contains the main noun or noun phrase: “The car crashed into the railing”; “Judy and two of her friends were elected to the National Honor Society.” In some cases the subject is implied: you is the implied subject in “Get me some orange juice.” (Compare predicate.)
In addition to the idiom beginning with subject
- subject to, be
- change the subject