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subjects - 2 dictionary results

sub⋅ject

  [n., adj. suhb-jikt; v. suhb-jekt]
Use subjects in a Sentence
–noun
1. that which forms a basic matter of thought, discussion, investigation, etc.: a subject of conversation.
2. a branch of knowledge as a course of study: He studied four subjects in his first year at college.
3. a motive, cause, or ground: a subject for complaint.
4. the theme of a sermon, book, story, etc.
5. the principal melodic motif or phrase in a musical composition, esp. in a fugue.
6. an object, scene, incident, etc., chosen by an artist for representation, or as represented in art.
7. a person who is under the dominion or rule of a sovereign.
8. a person who owes allegiance to a government and lives under its protection: four subjects of Sweden.
9. Grammar. (in English and many other languages) a syntactic unit that functions as one of the two main constituents of a simple sentence, the other being the predicate, and that consists of a noun, noun phrase, or noun substitute which often refers to the one performing the action or being in the state expressed by the predicate, as He in He gave notice.
10. a person or thing that undergoes or may undergo some action: As a dissenter, he found himself the subject of the group's animosity.
11. a person or thing under the control or influence of another.
12. a person as an object of medical, surgical, or psychological treatment or experiment.
13. a cadaver used for dissection.
14. Logic. that term of a proposition concerning which the predicate is affirmed or denied.
15. Philosophy.
a. that which thinks, feels, perceives, intends, etc., as contrasted with the objects of thought, feeling, etc.
b. the self or ego.
16. Metaphysics. that in which qualities or attributes inhere; substance.
–adjective
17. being under domination, control, or influence (often fol. by to).
18. being under dominion, rule, or authority, as of a sovereign, state, or some governing power; owing allegiance or obedience (often fol. by to).
19. open or exposed (usually fol. by to): subject to ridicule.
20. being dependent or conditional upon something (usually fol. by to): His consent is subject to your approval.
21. being under the necessity of undergoing something (usually fol. by to): All beings are subject to death.
22. liable; prone (usually fol. by to): subject to headaches.
–verb (used with object)
23. to bring under domination, control, or influence (usually fol. by to).
24. to bring under dominion, rule, or authority, as of a conqueror or a governing power (usually fol. by to).
25. to cause to undergo the action of something specified; expose (usually fol. by to): to subject metal to intense heat.
26. to make liable or vulnerable; lay open; expose (usually fol. by to): to subject oneself to ridicule.
27. Obsolete. to place beneath something; make subjacent.
Origin:
1275–1325; (adj.) < L subjectus placed beneath, inferior, open to inspection, orig. ptp. of subicere to throw or place beneath, make subject, equiv. to sub- sub- + -jec-, comb. form of jacere to throw + -tus ptp. suffix; r. ME suget < OF < L, as above; (n.) < LL subjectum grammatical or dialectical subject, n. use of neut. of subjectus; r. ME suget, as above; (v.) < L subjectāre, freq. of subicere; r. ME suget(t)en < OF sugetter < L, as above

Related forms:
sub⋅ject⋅a⋅ble, adjective
sub⋅ject⋅a⋅bil⋅i⋅ty, noun
sub⋅ject⋅ed⋅ly, adverb
sub⋅ject⋅ed⋅ness, noun
sub⋅ject⋅less, adjective
sub⋅ject⋅like, adjective

Synonyms:
1, 4. Subject, theme, topic are often interchangeable to express the material being considered in a speech or written composition. Subject is a broad word for whatever is treated in writing, speech, art, etc.: the subject for discussion. Theme and topic are usually narrower and apply to some limited or specific part of a general subject. A theme is often the underlying conception of a discourse or composition, perhaps not put into words but easily recognizable: The theme of a need for reform runs throughout her work. A topic is the statement of what is to be treated in a section of a composition: The topic is treated fully in this section. 3. reason, rationale. 17. subordinate, subservient. 20. contingent.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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sub·ject   (sŭb'jĭkt)   
adj.  
  1. Being in a position or in circumstances that place one under the power or authority of another or others: subject to the law.
  2. Prone; disposed: a child who is subject to colds.
  3. Likely to incur or receive; exposed: a directive subject to misinterpretation.
  4. Contingent or dependent: a vacation subject to changing weather.
n.  
  1. One who is under the rule of another or others, especially one who owes allegiance to a government or ruler.
    1. One concerning which something is said or done: a subject of gossip.
    2. Something that is treated or indicated in a work of art.
    3. Music A theme of a composition, especially a fugue.
    4. One that experiences or is subjected to something: the subject of ridicule.
    5. A person or animal that is the object of medical or scientific study: The experiment involved 12 subjects.
    6. A corpse intended for anatomical study and dissection.
    7. One who is under surveillance: The subject was observed leaving the scene of the murder.
    8. The essential nature or substance of something as distinguished from its attributes.
    9. The mind or thinking part as distinguished from the object of thought.
  3. A course or area of study: Math is her best subject.
  4. A basis for action; a cause.
    1. One that experiences or is subjected to something: the subject of ridicule.
    2. A person or animal that is the object of medical or scientific study: The experiment involved 12 subjects.
    3. A corpse intended for anatomical study and dissection.
    4. One who is under surveillance: The subject was observed leaving the scene of the murder.
    5. The essential nature or substance of something as distinguished from its attributes.
    6. The mind or thinking part as distinguished from the object of thought.
  6. Grammar The noun, noun phrase, or pronoun in a sentence or clause that denotes the doer of the action or what is described by the predicate.
  7. Logic The term of a proposition about which something is affirmed or denied.
  8. Philosophy
    1. The essential nature or substance of something as distinguished from its attributes.
    2. The mind or thinking part as distinguished from the object of thought.
tr.v.   (səb-jěkt') sub·ject·ed, sub·ject·ing, sub·jects
  1. To submit for consideration.
  2. To submit to the authority of.
  3. To expose to something: patients subjected to infection.
  4. To cause to experience: subjected to extreme weather.
  5. To subjugate; subdue.

[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin sūbiectus, from past participle of sūbicere, to subject : sub-, sub- + iacere, to throw; see yē- in Indo-European roots.]
sub·jec'tion (səb-jěk'shən) n.
Synonyms: These nouns denote the principal idea or point of a speech, a piece of writing, or an artistic work. Subject is the most general: "Well, honor is the subject of my story" (Shakespeare).
Matter refers to the material that is the object of thought or discourse: "This distinction seems to me to go to the root of the matter" (William James).
A topic is a subject of discussion, argument, or conversation: "They would talk of . . . fashionable topics, such as pictures, taste, Shakespeare" (Oliver Goldsmith).
Theme refers especially to an idea, a point of view, or a perception that is developed and expanded on in a work of art: "To produce a mighty book, you must choose a mighty theme" (Herman Melville). See Also Synonyms at citizen, dependent.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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