subaction

S1U1B3A1C3T1I1O1N1

noun

The act of reducing to any state, such as of mixing two bodies completely.

Scrabble 13

Meanings

subaction1

nounsubaction (plural subactions)

plural subactions

  1. obsoleteThe act of reducing to any state, such as of mixing two bodies completely.

    there are of concoction two periods ; the one assimilation , or absolute conversion and subaction ; the other maturation

    1627 (indicated as 1626), Francis [Bacon], “IX. Century.”, in Sylua Syluarum: Or A Naturall Historie. In Ten Centuries. […], London: […] William Rawley […]; [p]rinted by J[ohn] H[aviland] for William Lee […], →OCLC
    1 more example

    the whole masse of spawne may also bee imbibed by bole or frankincense or minium or cerusse incorporated by agitation or subaction.

    a. 1682, Thomas Browne, Observations on frogs

subaction2

nounsubaction (plural subactions)

plural subactions

  1. An action that makes up part of a more complex action.

    This is so because efforts, exertions, and endeavorings, if they were to exist, would need to be actions themselves, or parts of actions, or subactions or behaviors of some sort […]

    2012, Timothy O'Connor, Constantine Sandis, A Companion to the Philosophy of Action

Origin

subaction · noun

  1. Latinsubactio
  2. Englishsubaction

Compare Latin subactio a working up, discipline.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

subaction. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/subaction

MLA

“subaction.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/subaction. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “subaction,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/subaction.

Source: subaction on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.