subordinaries

Subordinaries is a term used to describe elements that are dependent on a main unit within a hierarchical system. The precise meaning of the term varies by field, and it is not a standardized label. More common terms include subordinate clauses, dependent clauses, subsidiary units, or subordinate components.

In linguistics, subordinaries typically refer to subordinate clauses—parts of a sentence that cannot stand alone and function as units within a larger clause. They are introduced by subordinating expressions such as conjunctions or relative pronouns and can serve as noun clauses, adjective clauses, or adverbial clauses. Examples include: “I know that you are tired” (a that-clause as the object) and “The book that you bought is mine” (a relative clause modifying a noun). Subordinate clauses are governed by rules of dependency and often show different word orders or tense from the main clause.

In other domains, subordinaries may denote components, entities, or units that operate under the authority or dependence of a principal unit. In software engineering, for example, a subroutine or module can be described as a subordinate unit to a main program. In corporate or organizational contexts, subordinate entities may exist under a parent organization; however, the term subordinaries is less common than terms such as subsidiary or affiliate and is more often encountered in historical or cross-disciplinary writing.

Etymology traces the word to Latin subordinarius, from sub- ‘under’ and ordinare ‘to arrange,’ reflecting a sense of things arranged under a main unit. The label remains rare in contemporary technical writing, where discipline-specific terminology is preferred.