subject Definition

subject
noun

1a. A matter, topic, person, etc that is under discussion or consideration or that features as the major theme in a book, film, play, etc;

Thesaurus: matter, topic, theme, point, issue, gist, argument, substance, question.
1b. The person that a biography is written about.
2. An area of learning that forms a course of study.
3. Someone or something that an artist, sculptor, photographer, etc chooses to represent.
4. Someone who undergoes an experiment, operation, form of treatment, hypnosis, psychoanalysis, etc.
5. Someone who is ruled by a monarch, government, etc; a citizen.

Example: became an American subject
6. grammar.
A word, phrase or clause which indicates the person or thing that performs the action of an active verb or that receives the action of a passive verb, eg The doctor is the subject in The doctor saw us, and We is the subject in We were seen by the doctor. See also nominative.
7. music.
The dominant pattern of notes that is repeated in a composition. Also called theme.

adj

1a. Liable; showing a tendency; prone;

Example: Harry is subject to huge mood swings
Form: subject to something (often)
1b. Exposed; open;

Example: left himself subject to ridicule
Form: subject to something (often)
1c. Conditional upon something.

Thesaurus: dependent on, contingent on.
Form: subject to something (always)
2. Dependent; ruled by a monarch or government.

Example: a subject nation
Thesaurus: ruled, directed, submissive, servile, slavish, dependent, subordinate.

adverb

1. Conditionally upon something.

Example: You may go, subject to your parent's permission
Form: subject to (always)

verb subjected, subjecting

1. To cause them or it to undergo or experience something unwelcome, unpleasant, etc.

Example: subjected them to years of abuse
Example: As a diver, he was constantly subjected to danger
Form: subject someone to something (usually)
Form: subject something to something
2. To make (a person, a people, nation, etc) subordinate to or under the control of another.

Thesaurus: control, tame, master, govern, dominate, suppress, subdue, vanquish, enthrall; Antonym: liberate, release.

Derivative: subjectless
adj

Derivative: subjectship
noun

Etymology: 13c: from Latin subjectus or thrown under, inferior.