subject
subject
Pronunciation
As a noun or adjective:
IPA: /ˈsʌbdʒɪkt/
First syllable: /sʌb/ (s-uh-b)
Second syllable: /dʒɪkt/ (j-ih-kt)
As a verb:
IPA: /səbˈdʒɛkt/
First syllable: /səb/ (s-uh-b)
Second syllable: /dʒɛkt/ (j-eh-kt)
Word Form Variations
Noun:
Singular: subject
Plural: subjects
Verb:
Base form: subject
Third-person singular present: subjects
Present participle: subjecting
Past tense: subjected
Past participle: subjected
Adjective: subject (does not typically have variations like comparative or superlative in this usage, though it can be used with "more" or "most" in certain contexts, e.g., "more subject to change")
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: A person or thing that is being discussed, described, or dealt with; the topic or theme of a conversation, book, movie, etc.
Synonyms: topic, theme, matter, issue, question, agenda
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms, as it refers to the focus rather than an opposition)
Definition 2: A person or animal that is undergoing an experiment, test, or treatment.
Synonyms: participant, case, patient, specimen, research subject
Antonyms: researcher, experimenter
Definition 3: An area of knowledge studied in a school or university.
Synonyms: discipline, field, course, area of study
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms)
Definition 4: A citizen or person owing allegiance to a monarch or governing power.
Synonyms: citizen, national, inhabitant, resident, vassal
Antonyms: monarch, ruler, sovereign
Verb
Definition 1: To cause someone or something to undergo an experience or treatment, especially an unpleasant or difficult one.
Synonyms: expose, submit, put through, inflict, cause to undergo
Antonyms: spare, protect, shield, exempt
Definition 2: To bring (a person or country) under one's control or authority.
Synonyms: conquer, subjugate, subdue, master, bring to heel
Antonyms: liberate, free, release, emancipate
Adjective
Definition 1: Dependent or conditional upon something; likely to be affected by or experience something. Often followed by "to."
Synonyms: susceptible, liable, prone, vulnerable, open
Antonyms: immune, resistant, invulnerable, exempt
Examples of Use
Books:
"The subject of the novel, One Hundred Years of Solitude, is the multi-generational story of the Buendía family and the mythical town of Macondo." (Gabriel García Márquez, One Hundred Years of Solitude)
"In Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, Yuval Noah Harari tackles the vast subject of human history from the Stone Age to the twenty-first century." (Yuval Noah Harari, Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind)
Newspapers:
"The economy remained a central subject of debate among the presidential candidates during last night's town hall." (The New York Times)
"Experts warn that the new climate regulations could subject several industries to significant financial strain." (The Wall Street Journal)
Online Publications:
"The recent surge in AI development has become a hot subject for ethical discussion across various tech forums." (Wired.com)
"Patients will be subject to a new set of protocols aimed at improving data privacy and security." (TechCrunch.com)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: "The film explores the complex subject of artificial intelligence and its impact on human relationships." (From a review of The Creator)
Television Series: "Our next documentary will focus on the fascinating subject of deep-sea exploration." (Voiceover from a BBC Earth documentary)
Podcast: "Today's podcast delves into the controversial subject of universal basic income, examining its pros and cons." (From The Daily, a podcast by The New York Times)
Video Game: "Players are encouraged to thoroughly investigate every subject in the research facility to uncover clues." (Dialogue from the game Control, Remedy Entertainment)
General Public Discourse:
"The teacher asked the students to choose any subject they liked for their final research paper." (Common classroom instruction)
"He was clearly a loyal subject of the king, always upholding the crown's decrees." (Historical discourse or fictional narrative)
"The contract explicitly states that all employees are subject to random drug testing." (Legal or workplace discussion)
"Don't change the subject! We were talking about your responsibilities." (Everyday conversation)
"The new policy will subject small businesses to increased administrative burdens." (Public debate or community meeting)
10 Quotes Using Subject
"The only subject on which I am an authority is myself." (Oscar Wilde, De Profundis, 1897)
"All are subject to the law, and all are entitled to equal protection of the law." (Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, 1868)
"I am no longer a British subject; I am an American citizen." (Benjamin Franklin, Letter to William Strahan, 1775)
"The proper subject of philosophy is none other than life itself." (Arthur Schopenhauer, The World as Will and Representation, 1818)
"Truth is the offspring of silence and meditation. I keep the subject constantly before me and wait 'til the first dawnings open slowly, by little and little, into a full and clear light." (Isaac Newton, attributed)
"A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject." (Winston Churchill, attributed)
"Upon the subject of education, not presuming to dictate any plan or system respecting it, I can only say that I view it as the most important subject which we as a people can be engaged in." (Abraham Lincoln, Letter to Usher F. Linder, 1838)
"I never could have done what I have done without the habits of punctuality, order, and diligence, without the determination to concentrate myself on one subject at a time." (Charles Dickens, attributed)
"There is no subject so old that something new cannot be said about it." (Fyodor Dostoevsky, attributed)
"It is not power that corrupts but fear. Fear of losing power corrupts those who wield it and fear of the scourge of power corrupts those who are subject to it." (Aung San Suu Kyi, Freedom from Fear, 1991)
Etymology
The word "subject" has a rich history, and its meaning has evolved quite a bit over time, stemming from its Latin roots.
Imagine someone "throwing" something "under" something else. That's essentially the core idea behind "subject." The word comes from the Latin verb subicere, which means "to throw under," "to place beneath," or "to subordinate." This verb is made up of two parts: sub- meaning "under" and iacere meaning "to throw."
From this basic idea of being "thrown under" or "placed beneath," the meaning of "subject" developed.
First Known Use and Meaning:
The earliest known uses of "subject" in English, dating back to the Middle English period (around the 14th century), reflect this original Latin sense of being "under" someone else's authority or control.
As a noun, around 1330, "subject" first referred to a person who is under the control or dominion of another, especially someone who owes allegiance to a ruler or government. Think of a "king's subject" – someone who is "under" the king's rule.
As an adjective, around 1375, it was used to mean "obedient," "submissive," or "being under the power of another." So, if you were "subject" to a king, you were expected to obey him.
As a verb, a bit later, before 1382, "to subject" meant to "make (a person or nation) subject to another by force," or "to render submissive or dependent."
Over time, the word expanded to include other meanings like the "topic of discussion" (think of it as the main idea "lying under" a conversation), or a "field of study" (the area of knowledge "under" examination). The grammatical sense of a "subject" in a sentence also comes from this idea of something that "lies under" or is the foundation for the rest of the sentence.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Subject
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "subject":
Subject to change: This means something is not definite and might be altered in the future.
On the subject of (something): Used to introduce a new topic for discussion, often related to what was just being talked about.
Change the subject: To abruptly switch the topic of conversation, often to avoid an uncomfortable or difficult discussion.
Subject matter expert (SME): A person who is highly knowledgeable or skilled in a particular area or topic.
Be subject to (something): To be liable to, exposed to, or governed by something. (e.g., "The new rules are subject to approval.")
The subject came up: The topic was mentioned or introduced into a conversation.
**Off-**subject: Not relevant to the main topic of discussion.
A delicate subject: A topic that needs to be discussed with care due to its sensitive nature.
To bring up the subject: To introduce a particular topic into conversation.
A subject close to one's heart: A topic or issue that someone feels very strongly about or is personally invested in.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of subject from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
