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Subaltern is an adjective that means of a lower status.
Our word of the day comes from the prefix S-U-B for ‘below’ and the Latin word alternus (ALL ter noose) which means ‘every other.’ Initially used as a rank in the British army, subaltern soon came to be used more broadly in reference to anyone below someone else’s status. Here’s an example:
My boss at the restaurant wasn’t the easiest to get along with. When dealing with the lowly wait staff, he seemed to act as if he was working with subaltern people.
4.3
2020 ratings
Subaltern is an adjective that means of a lower status.
Our word of the day comes from the prefix S-U-B for ‘below’ and the Latin word alternus (ALL ter noose) which means ‘every other.’ Initially used as a rank in the British army, subaltern soon came to be used more broadly in reference to anyone below someone else’s status. Here’s an example:
My boss at the restaurant wasn’t the easiest to get along with. When dealing with the lowly wait staff, he seemed to act as if he was working with subaltern people.
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