subalternate

[ suhb-awl-ter-nit, -al- ]
/ sʌbˈɔl tər nɪt, -ˈæl- /

adjective

Botany. placed singly along an axis, but tending to become grouped oppositely.

Origin of subalternate

1400–50; late Middle English < Medieval Latin subalternātus (past participle of subalternāre to subordinate), equivalent to subaltern(us) subaltern + -ātus -ate1

OTHER WORDS FROM subalternate

sub·al·ter·na·tion [suhb-awl-ter-ney-shuh n, -al-] /sʌbˌɔl tərˈneɪ ʃən, -ˌæl-/, noun

British Dictionary definitions for subalternate

subalternate
/ (sʌbˈɔːltənɪt) /

adjective

(of leaves) having an arrangement intermediate between alternate and opposite
following in turn
of lesser quality or status

Derived forms of subalternate

subalternation (sʌbˌɔːltəˈneɪʃən), noun