1. [n]  a British commissioned army officer below the rank of captain
2. [adj]  inferior in rank or status; "the junior faculty"; "a lowly corporal"; "petty officialdom"; "a subordinate functionary"

Subaltern
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1. \Sub*al"tern\, a. [F. subalterne, LL. subalternus, fr.
   L. sub under + alter the one, the other of two. See {Alter}.]
   1. Ranked or ranged below; subordinate; inferior;
      specifically (Mil.), ranking as a junior officer; being
      below the rank of captain; as, a subaltern officer.
   2. (Logic) Asserting only a part of what is asserted in a
      related proposition.
   {Subaltern genus}. (Logic) See under {Genus}.
   

2. \Sub*al"tern\, n.
   1. A person holding a subordinate position; specifically, a
      commissioned military officer below the rank of captain.
   2. (Logic) A subaltern proposition. --Whately.