What a thing is about, and the one who acts rather than is acted on. Also one placed under an authority.
Latin subiectum (that which is thrown or placed under), from subicere, from sub (under) + iacere (to throw); the grammatical subject and the one under authority share the same word for being placed beneath.
What a thing is about, and the one who acts rather than is acted on, or one placed under authority. Three senses, and one old word for standing under something.