Also 4–5 -ieccioun, -one, 4–6 -ieccion, 4–7 -iection, 5–6 -iectione, -geccion, -gection, -yon, 5–7 -iectioun, (4 subieccoun, 5 -ccyoun, -iounne, -iecctioun, -ione, -iectyon, supjection, 6 -ieccyon). [a. OF. subjection (12th c.), in mod.F. only in Rhet. sense, sujétion (17th c.) in other senses, ad. L. subjectio, -ōnem, n. of action f. subicĕre (see SUBJECT a.). Cf. Pr. subjection, It. soggezione, suggezione, and subbiezione, Sp. sujecion, in Rhet. sense subjecion, Pg. sujeição, subjeição.]
† 1. The act, state or fact of exercising lordship or control; dominion, domination, control. Obs.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, vii. (Jacobus), 485. Dee þare þam leware wes ay, þane fore to thol subieccione of hyme þat segyt þan þar towne.
c. 1400. Apol. Loll., 59. Þof þu desire to be prest, or be befor to hem þat þu coueitist … ouer proudly … in coueiting subieccoun of hem.
1596. Spenser, State Irel., Wks. (Globe), 650/1. They should all rise generally into rebellion, and cast away the English subjection.
1667. Milton, P. L., X. 153. Lovely to attract Thy Love, not thy Subjection.
b. Phr. In, into, † to, † unto, † under subjection: in, into, under the dominion or control of a superior power.
Now felt as belonging to 2.
c. 1340. Richard Rolle of Hampole, Prick of Conscience, 4064. Swa þat it be put til destruccion Thurgh þam þat first was in subieccion.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Monk’s T., 476. He … This wyde world hadde in subieccioun.
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 26. Of Babiloine al that Empire … [he] Put under in subjeccioun.
c. 1430. Lydg., Min. Poems (Percy Soc.), 90. Of Assurye to rekne the kynges alle, Whiche had that lond under subjeccioune.
1513. Bradshaw, St. Werburge, I. 1544. Lowly submyttynge her vnder subieccyon.
1535. Coverdale, Ps. viii. 6. Thou hast put all thinges in subieccion vnder his fete.
1592. Soliman & Pers., III. i. 148. Till thou hast brought Rhodes in subiection.
1601. Shaks., All’s Well, I. i. 6. To whom I am now in Ward, euermore in subiection.
1667. Milton, P. L., IX. 1128. Both in subjection now To sensual Appetite.
a. 1715. Burnet, Ess. Own Time, I. (1724), I. 46. They [sc. the military force] will ever keep the Parliament in subjection to them.
1758. J. Dalrymple, Ess. Feudal Property (ed. 2), 3. The modern European colonies are kept in subjection … to their native country.
1853. Newman, Hist. Sk. (1876), I. I. ii. 91. The Caliph … was in subjection to a family of the old Persian race.
1862. Sir B. Brodie, Psychol. Inq., II. ii. 62. A well-regulated imagination, which is kept in subjection to the judgment.
c. with possessive pron. or phr. denoting the superior power or authority. Obs. or arch.
a. 1340. Hampole, Pr. Consc., 4070. Fra þat tyme sal na land ne contre In subieccion of Rome langer be.
1390. Gower, Conf., III. 180. He … Which hath in his subjeccion Tho men whiche in possession Ben riche of gold.
c. 1400. Maundev. (Roxb.), vi. 20. Oþer rewmes þat er vnder his subieccion.
c. 1407. Lydg., Reson & Sens., 5281. He kan make hem to lowte Vn-to his subieccion.
c. 1460. Oseney Reg., 110. This … graunt I made for A chaunterye … free and quietly fro the subieccion of the modur church.
c. 1489. Caxton, Sonnes of Aymon, xix. 408. Whan he sawe that he was … in the subgectyon of Reynawde … he was sore an angred.
c. 1500. Melusine, 17. Al the Countre therabout he held vnder his subgection.
1530. Palsgr., 355. Whiche dyd submytte a great parte of Grece in their subjection.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 885. To submit themselues to the subiection and grieuous yoke of the French king.
1584–5. Act 27 Eliz., c. 2 § 4. Any Parson under her Majesties Subjection or Obedience.
1632. Lithgow, Trav., III. 78. [The Cretans] would rather … render to the Turke, then to liue vnder the subection of Venice.
1652. J. Wright, trans. Camus’ Nat. Paradox, I. 3. The Castellians are those who have Lands, Citties, Burroughs, Villages and Seignories under their subjection.
1800. Asiatic Ann. Reg., I a. 25/1. In reducing under his subjection the whole of the districts in which the best cinnamon is produced.
2. The act or fact of being subjected, as under a monarch or other sovereign or superior power; the state of being subject to, or under the dominion of, another; hence gen., subordination.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., VI. xviii. (1495), 203. As the name seruaunt is a name of subieccion so the name lord is a name of soueraynte.
c. 1470. Golagros & Gaw., 441. Sauand my senyeoury fra subiectioun, And my lordscip vn-lamyt.
1563. Winȝet, trans. Vincent. Lirin., Wks. (S.T.S.), II. 5. The subiectioun of the Israelitis amangis the Gentilis.
1596. Spenser, State Irel., Wks. (Globe), 612/2. That generall subjection of the land, wherof we formerly spake.
1611. Speed, Theat. Gt. Brit., I. xii. 23/2. [Bristol] because it is an entire County of it selfe, it denies subiection vnto either [Somersetshire and Glocestershire].
1620. T. Granger, Div. Logike, 248. In regard of their conuenience, and subiection to the whole, they make no disiunction or opposition.
1641. ‘Smectymnuus,’ Vind. Answ., vii. 98. Now we read no where of the subjection of one Bishop and his charge to an other.
1651. Hobbes, Leviathan, I. viii. 39. Our obedience, and subjection to God Almighty.
1662. South, Serm., Gen. i. 27 (1697), I. 67. The Will … was subordinate … to the Understanding … as a Queen to her King; who both acknowledges a Subjection, and yet retains a Majesty.
1814. Wordsw., Excurs., III. 268. By philosophic discipline prepared For calm subjection to acknowledged law.
1869. J. S. Mill (title), The subjection of women.
1872. Yeats, Growth Comm., 58. The patriotic spirit … lost its force in a common subjection to Rome.
† 3. Submission; obedience; homage. Obs.
1382. Wyclif, 1 Tim. ii. 11. A womman lerne in silence, with al subieccioun.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), II. 115. Þe bisshop of Meneuia was i-sacred of þe bisshoppes of Wales … and made non professioun noþer subiection to non oþer chirche.
1387–8. T. Usk, Test. Love, I. ii. (Skeat), l. 10. A maner of ferdnesse crepeth in his herte, not for harme, but of goodly subjeccion.
1419. in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. II. I. 65. We ȝoure humble liges and servitours, with all subjection and humilitee.
1426. Lydg., De Guil. Pilgr., 1031. The body to the soule obeye In euery maner skylful weye, And bern to hym subieccion.
1460. Capgrave, Chron. (Rolls), Ded. 1. To my Sovereyn Lord Edward … a pore Frere … sendith prayer, obediens, subjeccion.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 96 b. Good religyon and subieccyon sore reproueth contempte for his suggestyon.
1671. Milton, Samson, 1405. Masters commands come with a power resistless To such as owe them absolute subjection.
a. 1674. Clarendon, Surv. Leviath. (1676), 91. To withdraw their subjection.
4. The action of making subject or bringing under a dominion or control; subjugation. rare.
1597. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. xlix. 104. The subiection of the body to the will is by naturall necessitie, the subiection of the will vnto God voluntarie.
a. 1676. Hale, Hist. Common Law, v. (1713), 99 (J.). After the Conquest of the Kingdom, and Subjection of the Rebels.
1849–50. Alison, Hist. Eur., VII. xlii. § 43. 125. The conquest of Europe, or at least the subjection of all its governments to his control.
† 5. The condition of a subject, and the obligations pertaining to it. Obs.
1599. Shaks., Hen. V., IV. i. 153. The King … who to disobey, were against all proportion of subiection. Ibid. (1611), Cymb., IV. iii. 19. I dare be bound hee’s true, and shall performe All parts of his subiection loyally.
a. 1635. Naunton, Fragm. Reg., in Phœnix (1707), I. 191. The Duke of Northumberland … rose as high as subjection could permit, or sovereignty endure.
† b. concr. Subjects collectively. Obs.
1502. Ord. Crysten Men (W. de W.), V. iii. LL ij. The subgeccyon ayenst theyr prelates, the chyldren agayne the fader and moder.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., 302. How populous the land from whence they came was, may be collected … from their ability in commanding so mighty subjections.
6. Legal or contractual obligation or liability.
c. 1450. Godstow Reg., 342. With-out any subieccion as any of that same hold ought, sauf only the forsaide xij. d vnto the workes of the forsaid chirch yerely.
1456. Sir G. Haye, Law Arms (S.T.S.), 192. [If] a man suld … defend his frende in his presence injurit, sa is he nocht bounde to na subjectioun of law tharfore.
1760. T. Hutchinson, Hist. Mass., ii. (1765), 251. They distinguished civil subjection, into necessary and voluntary.
1769. Blackstone, Comm., IV. ii. 28. The obligation of civil subjection, whereby the inferior is constrained by the superior to act contrary to what his own reason and inclination would suggest.
1843–56. Bouvier, Law Dict. (ed. 6), II. 553/2. Subjection, the obligation of … persons to act at the discretion, or according to the judgment and will of others.
† 7. The condition of being under some necessity or obligation; a duty or task: an ‘infliction.’ Obs.
1581. Pettie, trans. Guazzo’s Civ. Conv., I. (1586), 3. I feele it a great trauell … to obserue such circumstances, as the qualitie of the persons, and mine owne honor require: which is nothing else but paine and subiection.
1658. Evelyn, Fr. Gard. (1675), 261. ’Tis too great a subjection to gather their blossoms. Ibid. (1659), Lett. to Boyle, 9 Aug. The many subjections, which I cannot support, of conversing with mechanical capricious persons. Ibid. (1685), Mrs. Godolphin (1888), 183. I tell you she looked at it [sc. being obliged to play at cards] as a Calamity and subjection insupportable.
1719. London & Wise, Complete Gard’ner, 313. The only Subjection we are obliged to in such Grounds, is, first, to weed much.
† 8. The condition of being subject, exposed or liable to; liability. Obs.
1593. Mundy, Des Contraries, 39. They are free from subiection to eie medicines, which they haue need to practise, that are subiect to the eyes inflamation.
1628. T. Spencer, Logick, 128. His subiection to death; as a qualitie of his being.
1758. J. Dalrymple, Ess. Feudal Property (ed. 2), 154. In respect of subjection to forfeiture.
† 9. Rhet. An answer subjoined by a speaker to a question that he has just asked; the figure involving this; hence, a subjoined or additional statement, corollary. Obs.
1608. J. King, Serm., 5 Nov., 13. For what hath the righteous done? The subiection or answere implied must needs be, nihil, iust nothing.
1652. Urquhart, Jewel, 278. The refutative Schemes of Anticipation and Subjection.
1659. Leak, Water-works, Pref. 3. If we should build upon this Rule of Archimedes, That the Superficies of the Water is Spherical … there will follow a Subjection that we must hold in the Demonstrations; viz. That the Superficies of the Water is Circular.
1753. Chambers’ Cycl., Suppl., Subjection … is used for a brief answer to a preceding interrogation.
† 10. A putting under or placing before. rare.
1615. T. Adams, Leaven, 100. The most simple; who better vnderstand a spiritual doctrine, by the reall subiection of some thing familiar to their senses.
11. Logic. The act of supplying a subject to a predicate.
In mod. Dicts.
¶ 12. Misused for SUGGESTION. (Cf. SUBJESTION.)
c. 1386. Chaucer, Pars. T., ¶ 351. The firste thing is … thilke flesshly concupisence, and after that comth the subieccion [v.rr. suggestion(e] of the deuel.
a. 1450. Knt. de la Tour (1868), 77. The kinge, thorughe her false subieccion, putte Ioseph into stronge prison.
