C1 verb Formal

subservtude

/səbˈsɜːrvtjuːd/

To relegate something or someone to a subordinate, secondary, or submissive position in relation to another. It involves the active process of making an interest, person, or entity serve a higher or more dominant power.

Examples

3 of 5
1

You should never subservtude your personal happiness for the sake of a toxic relationship.

You should never subservtude your personal happiness for the sake of a toxic relationship.

2

The regime attempted to subservtude the judiciary to the executive branch to consolidate power.

The regime attempted to subservtude the judiciary to the executive branch to consolidate power.

3

Don't subservtude your own ideas just because the boss seems grumpy today.

Don't subservtude your own ideas just because the boss seems grumpy today.

Word Family

Noun
subservitude
Verb
subservtude
Adverb
subserviently
Adjective
subservient
Related
subservience
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Memory Tip

Think of 'Sub' (under) + 'Serve' + 'tude'. It is the act of forcing someone into the 'attitude' of 'serving under' someone else.

Quick Quiz

The totalitarian leader sought to ________ the needs of the citizens to the expansion of the military.

Correct!

The correct answer is: subservtude

Examples

1

You should never subservtude your personal happiness for the sake of a toxic relationship.

everyday

You should never subservtude your personal happiness for the sake of a toxic relationship.

2

The regime attempted to subservtude the judiciary to the executive branch to consolidate power.

formal

The regime attempted to subservtude the judiciary to the executive branch to consolidate power.

3

Don't subservtude your own ideas just because the boss seems grumpy today.

informal

Don't subservtude your own ideas just because the boss seems grumpy today.

4

Modernist architecture tends to subservtude ornamental form to functional utility.

academic

Modernist architecture tends to subservtude ornamental form to functional utility.

5

We cannot subservtude our long-term strategic goals to quarterly profit margins.

business

We cannot subservtude our long-term strategic goals to quarterly profit margins.

Word Family

Noun
subservitude
Verb
subservtude
Adverb
subserviently
Adjective
subservient
Related
subservience

Common Collocations

subservtude the individual subserve/subordinate the individual
subservtude to the will subserve/subordinate to the will
subservtude personal interests subserve/subordinate personal interests
subservtude for the greater good subserve/subordinate for the greater good
refuse to subservtude refuse to subserve/subordinate

Common Phrases

subservtude one's ego

to suppress one's ego in favor of a cause

to subservtude the truth

to make the truth secondary to an agenda

subservtude to a higher power

to place oneself in a subordinate role to a deity or authority

Often Confused With

subservtude vs subservience

Subservience is a noun describing the state of being submissive, while subservtude is the verb form meaning the act of making something submissive.

subservtude vs subserve

Subserve is the more standard English verb; subservtude is a more obscure, technical, or archaic-style variant.

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Usage Notes

As a verb, subservtude is highly formal and relatively rare in modern English compared to 'subordinate' or 'subserve.' It is most often found in academic or legal contexts discussing power structures.

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Common Mistakes

Learners often use the noun suffix '-tude' and mistake it for the noun form (subservitude), or they use it in casual conversation where 'put second' would be more natural.

💡

Memory Tip

Think of 'Sub' (under) + 'Serve' + 'tude'. It is the act of forcing someone into the 'attitude' of 'serving under' someone else.

📖

Word Origin

Derived from the Latin 'sub-' (under) and 'servire' (to serve), adapted with the suffix '-tude' to denote a state or action of placement.

Grammar Patterns

Transitive verb: requires a direct object (e.g., subservtude the needs). Often followed by the preposition 'to' to indicate the dominant entity. Commonly used in the passive voice: 'X was subservtuded to Y'.
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Cultural Context

Often used in political science or post-colonial studies to describe how certain cultures or languages are made secondary to a dominant one.

Quick Quiz

The totalitarian leader sought to ________ the needs of the citizens to the expansion of the military.

Correct!

The correct answer is: subservtude

Related Words

proceed

C1

The noun form, typically used in the plural 'proceeds,' refers to the total amount of money received from a particular event, sale, or activity. It is a formal term used in academic, legal, and business contexts to describe the result of a financial transaction or fundraising effort.

individual

C1

Relating to a single person or thing as distinct from a group. It describes something that is intended for, or used by, one person rather than a collective entity.

appropriately

B2

To perform an action in a manner that is suitable, right, or proper for a particular situation, person, or occasion. It implies following specific social norms, professional standards, or logical requirements.

region

B2

A region is an area of land that has common features, such as geography, climate, or culture, which distinguish it from other areas. It can refer to a large part of a country or the world and is often used in administrative or scientific contexts to organize space.

resource

B2

A stock or supply of money, materials, staff, and other assets that can be drawn on by a person or organization in order to function effectively. In academic and informational contexts, it refers to a source of information or expertise used to support research or learning.

to

A1

Used to indicate the place, person, or thing that someone or something moves toward. It can also mark the recipient of an action or the limit of a range.

and

A1

A primary conjunction used to connect words, phrases, or clauses that are grammatically equal. It indicates addition, a sequence of events, or a relationship between two things.

a

A1

A word used before a singular noun that is not specific or is being mentioned for the first time. It is used only before words that begin with a consonant sound to indicate one of something.

that

A1

This word is a demonstrative pronoun used to indicate a specific person, object, or idea that is further away in space or time from the speaker. It is also used to refer back to something that has already been mentioned or to introduce a clause that identifies something.

I

A1

The pronoun 'I' is used by a speaker or writer to refer to themselves as the subject of a verb. It is the first-person singular subject pronoun in English and is always capitalized regardless of its position in a sentence.

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