sub-, suc-, suf-, sug-, sum-, sup-, sur-, sus-, su-

(Latin: under, below, beneath; used as a prefix as shown in various formats below)

Don't confuse the sur- in this element with the sur- in super-. Note: sub- regularly means "under", but it often changes its form as it retains or keeps its meaning:

The prefix sub- often becomes suc- before c: succumb.

The prefix sub- often becomes suf- before f: suffuse.

The prefix sub- often becomes sug- before g: suggest.

The prefix sub- often becomes sum- before m: sumptuous.

The prefix sub- often becomes sup- before p: suppression.

The prefix sub- often becomes sur- before r: surrogate.

The prefix, sub- is often simplified to su- before sp; as seen in suspect, suspend, suspicion, suspension, et al. Before c, p, and t; it is sometimes formed into sus-.

submitter
subnormal (adjective), more subnormal, most subnormal
1. A reference to having lower or less than average skills or functions: Jim had subnormal behavior in his psychological traits, intelligence, personality, and emotional responses.
2. Having less of something than is usual: Kate had subnormal body temperature when she went out into the cold weather as compared to the average person.
suboral
Under, or below, the mouth.
suborbital
subordinate (verb), subordinates; subordinated; subordinating
To grade, to rank, or to place something or someone in a less important position than others: In some educational systems; because of financial shortages, the emphasis is on science, math, or other academic subjects; so, some school officials feel compelled to subordinate art, music, sports, etc. as extra curricular activities.
subordination (s) (noun), subordinations (pl)
An act of giving someone or something less importance or power: Kelsey notices that society can still be described as being of male domination and female subordination.
subphylum
subpoena, subpena (s); subpoenas, subpenas (pl) (noun forms)
1. A written legal order summoning a witness or requiring evidence to be submitted to a court or similar deliberative law body: "A subpoena was sent out to the man requiring him to testify as a witness to the criminal act that he saw when he was at the bank during the robbery."
2. A written order which commands a person to appear in court to give evidence or testimony: "Two people received subpoenas to submit her bank records."
subpoena, subpoenas, subpoenaed, subpoenaing (verb forms)
1. To order someone to appear in court to give evidence in a legal case: "She was subpoenaed to give her testimony during the trial."
2. To issue a legal order to someone or for something: "The prosecutor subpoenaed the defendant's financial records."
subprime (adjective) (not comparable)
A classification of borrowers with a tarnished or limited credit history: Lenders will use a credit scoring system to determine which loans a subprime borrower may qualify for.

Subprime loans usually carry more credit risks, and so, they result in higher interest rates.

subprime loan (s) (noun), subprime loans (pl)
A loan offered to an individual who does not qualify for a normal loan at the "prime rate" because of his or her credit history: If a lender thinks that there is an above-average risk involved in giving a loan to a certain individual, chances are likely that the lender will offer the borrower a subprime loan, which has an interest rate "higher than the prime rate".

The subprime rate offered by a lender may be different depending on the lending institution.

subprime mortgage (s) (noun), subprime mortgages (pl)
A class of property that is used by borrowers who have low credit ratings: Borrowers who have subprime mortgages generally do not qualify for loans with lower rates because they have "damaged credit" or no credit history, and so they are considered untrustworthy by lending institutions.

Since the default risk for poor credit borrowers is greater than for other kinds of borrowers, lenders will normally charge a higher interest rate for subprime mortgages.

subrident (SUHB righ" duhnt) (adjective), more subrident, most subrident
1. Presenting or wearing a smile: The cashier of the store always had a subrident greeting for her customers when they came to pay for their purchases; as well as, a subrident "thank you" after they had paid.

The students were always welcomed to class with the teacher's subrident friendliness.

2. Etymology: from Latin sub-, "diminished" or "under" + ridere, "to laugh"; therefore, subrident indicates "smiling" instead of "laughing".
Having or offered with a smile.
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subrogate (verb), subrogates; subrogated; subrogating
1. To substitute a person for another one: Since Sean's daughter was in the hospital, he surrogated her, or took her place, to claim the lottery prize that she had won.
2. To substitute one creditor for another, as in a case where an insurance company sues the person who caused an accident in behalf of the insured: Legal action was taken to subrogate the ultimate payment of the debt by the party who, in fairness and good conscience, should pay for the damage that they caused.
To substitute one person for another person.
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Go to this Word A Day Revisited Index
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subrogation (s) (noun), subrogations (pl)
The substitution of one legal claim for another one: There was a subrogation that included a transfer of Norbert's payments of his debt to Tamika, after her death, to her daughter.