subaltern

Meanings

Adjective

• Of a lower rank or position; inferior or secondary; especially ranking as a junior officer, below the rank of captain.
• Asserting only a part of what is asserted in a related proposition.

Noun

• A subordinate.
• A commissioned officer having a rank below that of captain; a lieutenant or second lieutenant.
• A subaltern proposition; a proposition implied by a universal proposition. For example, some crows are black is a subaltern of all crows are black.
• A member of a group that is socially, politically and geographically outside of the hegemonic power structure of the colony and of the colonial homeland.

Origin

• From Middle French subalterne, from Late Latin subalternus, from Latin sub- + alternus, from alter.