subrogate

sub·ro·gate   (sŭb'rō-gāt')    tr.v.   sub·ro·gat·ed, sub·ro·gat·ing, sub·ro·gates To substitute (one person) for another. [Middle English *subrogaten, from Latin subrogāre, subrogāt- : sub-, instead of; see sub- + rogāre, to ask; see reg- in Indo-European roots.]

Main Entry: sub·ro·gate
Pronunciation: 's&-brO-"gAt
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Forms: -gat·ed; -gat·ing
Etymology: Latin subrogatus, past participle of subrogare surrogare to elect as a substitute, from sub- under + rogare to request
: to put in the place of another by the doctrine of subrogation : substitute (as a second creditor) for another with regard to a legal right or claim <subrogates the trustee to the priority and avoidance rights of certain unsecured creditors —J. J. White and Railroad S. Summers> subrogated…to the rights of the creditor —Louisiana Civil Code>