Meanings
subaction1
plural subactions
- 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 […], →OCLC1 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
plural subactions
- 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
- Latinsubactio
- Englishsubaction
Compare Latin subactio a working up, discipline.
More words from Latin
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
subaction. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/subaction
“subaction.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/subaction. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “subaction,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/subaction.
Source: subaction on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.