subject

SUBJECT, a.

1. Placed or situate under.

--The eastern tower whose height commands, as subject, all the vale, to see the fight.

2. Being under the power and dominion of another; as, Jamaica is subject to Great Britain.

Esau was never subject to Jacob.

3. Exposed; liable from extraneous causes; as a country subject to extreme heat or cold.

4. Liable from inherent causes; prone; disposed.

All human things are subject to decay.

5. Being that on which nay thing operates, whether intellectual or material; as the subject-matter of a discourse.

6. Obedient. Titus 3. Colossians 2.

SUBJECT, n. [L.]

1. One that owes allegiance to a sovereign and is governed by his laws. The natives of Great Britain are subjects of the British government. The natives of the United States, and naturalized foreigners, are subjects of the federal government. Men in free governments, are subjects as well as citizens; as citizens, they enjoy rights and franchises; as subjects, they are bound to obey the laws.

The subject must obey his prince, because God commands it, and human laws require it.

2. That on which any mental operation is performed; that which is treated or handled; as a subject of discussion before the legislature; a subject of negotiation.

This subject for heroic song pleasd me.

The subject of a proposition is that concerning which any thing is affirmed or denied.

3. That on which any physical operation is performed; as a subject for dissection or amputation.

4. That in which any thing inheres or exists.

Anger is certainly a kind of baseness, as it appears well in the weakness of those subjects in whom it reigns.

5. The person who is treated of; the hero of a piece.

Authors of biography are apt to be prejudiced in favor of their subject.

6. In grammar, the nominative case to a verb passive.

SUBJECT, v.t.

1. To bring under the power or dominion of. Alexander subjected a great part of the civilized world to his dominion.

Firmness of mind that subjects every gratification of sense to the rule of right reason--

2. To put under or within the power of.

In one short view subjected to our eye, gods, emperors, heroes, sages, beauties lie.

3. To enslave; to make obnoxious.

He is the most subjected, the most enslaved, who is so in his understanding.

4. To expose; to make liable. Credulity subjects a person to impositions.

5. To submit; to make accountable.

God is not bound to subject his ways of operation to the scrutiny of our thoughts--

6. To make subservient.

--Subjected to his service angel wings.

7. To cause to undergo; as, to subject a substance to a white heat; to subject it to a rigid test.

subjection

SUBJECTION, n.

1. The act of subduing; the act of vanquishing and bringing under the dominion of another.

The conquest of the kingdom and the subjection of the rebels--

2. The state of being under the power, control and government of another. The safety of life, liberty, and property depends on our subjection to the laws. The isles of the West Indies are held in subjection to the powers of Europe. Our appetites and passions should be in subjection to our reason, and our will should be in entire subjection to the laws of God.