Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- Below; under; beneath: subsoil.
- Subordinate; secondary: subplot.
- Subdivision: subregion.
- Less than completely or normally; nearly; almost: subhuman.
Wiktionary
GNU Webster's 1913
- A prefix signifying
under ,below ,beneath , and hence often,in an inferior position ordegree ,in an imperfect orpartial state , as insub scribe,sub struct,sub serve,sub ject,sub ordinate,sub acid,sub astringent,sub granular,sub orn.Sub- in Latin compounds often becomessum- beforem ,sur beforer , and regularly becomessuc- ,suf- ,sug- , andsup- beforec ,f ,g , andp respectively. Beforec ,p , andt it sometimes takes formsus- (by the dropping ofb from a collateral form,subs- ). - (Chem.), obsolescent A prefix denoting that the ingredient (of a compound) signified by the term to which it is prefixed,is present in
only a small proportion , orless than the normal amount ; Prefixed to the name of a salt it is equivalent tobasic .
Etymologies
- From the Latin sub, meaning under (Wiktionary)
- Middle English, from Latin, from sub, under; see upo in Indo-European roots. (American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition)
Examples
“Nearly half of the Anglo Irish portfolio consists of performing loans, while 53% are characterized as sub- or nonperforming loans, with an average value of about 30% below face value, according to people familiar with the matter.”
The Wall Street Journal: Anglo Irish's U.S. Portfolio Draws Interest
“Never mind that sub-$60 oil would be a godsend to the airlines who are the actual customers.”
“Moreover, there are signs that sub-$100 prices may be gone for some time.”
The Wall Street Journal: Oil, Equity Markets Diverge after Libyan Attacks
“In previous fashions seasons, I've spent time interviewing modelling agents, designers, and representatives for NY Fashion Week and no one "knows" who is creating this sub- zero size model trend.”
“The Dodgers' nine additions probably won't help them improve on a sub-.500 season.”
“We've been very over-extended as cruised through $95 and up toward $100 and we could be headed for a move back to sub-$90," said Gene McGillian , a broker and analyst at Tradition Energy.”
The Wall Street Journal: Crude Declines on Europe Worries; Falls Out of Backwardation
“The sub-$3 levels for gas prices in the winter really point to the incredible amount of nonconventional gas that has come onto the market the last two years," said Gene McGillian , analyst at Tradition Energy in Stamford, Conn.”
The Wall Street Journal: Natural Gas Ends 2011 at 27-Month Low
“UCLA and Michigan weren't even doing that: Both were sitting home after sub-.500 seasons.”
“There's even a flicker of life from the sub-.500 Los Angeles Clippers, home of the exciting guy who dunked over the front end of that car.”
The Wall Street Journal: These Days, Everyone Can Stand the Heat
“Scan the blackboards outside and you may well find a sub-£10 bargain on that evening's bistro menu.”
The Guardian: Top 10 best budget restaurants in Cheltenham and Gloucester
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