subdivisionn.
/ˈsʌbdᵻˌvɪʒn/, /ˌsʌbdᵻˈvɪʒn/, U.S. /ˈsəbdəˌvɪʒən/ 1. The action or process of subdividing something; the fact of being subdivided; (also) an instance of this.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > separation > action of dividing or divided condition > [noun] > subdivision
subdivision?a1425
subdividing1608
the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > separation > action of dividing or divided condition > [noun] > subdivision > instance of
subdivision1553
?a1425 tr. Guy de Chauliac Grande Chirurgie (N.Y. Acad. Med.) f. 1v Þe maner & þe fourme of wirching profitably with þe foresaid instrumentez..is drawen oute of 4 consideracions... Þe first is had bi dyuysion & subdiuisioun [L. per divisionem et subdivisionem].
1553 T. Wilson Arte of Rhetorique ii. 61 Now vpon a diuision, there might also be made a subdiuision.
1622 G. de Malynes Consuetudo 360 The Denomination, Division and Subdivision of the moneys of all Countreys is most necessarie for Merchants.
1634 R. H. tr. Regim. Salerni Pref. sig. A3 The third Ranke..admits a Subdivision into Better and Worse, Wise and Foolish, Learned and Ignorant.
1776 A. Smith Inq. Wealth of Nations I. i. i. 13 This subdivision of employment in philosophy, as well as in every other business, improves dexterity and saves time. View more context for this quotation
1776 A. Smith Inq. Wealth of Nations I. i. xi. 206 The nature of their business admits of the utmost subdivisions of labour. View more context for this quotation
1832 D. Brewster Lett. Nat. Magic viii. 182 The subdivision of the string, and consequently the production of harmonic sounds, may be effected..by means of a sympathetic action conveyed by the air.
1855 A. Bain Senses & Intellect Introd. ii. 42 The Cerebral Nerves are divided into nine pairs, some of these being considered as admitting of farther subdivision.
1861 Ld. Brougham Brit. Constit. (ed. 2) xix. 313 Too minute a subdivision of business tends to contract the minds of those who perform it.
1889 J. J. Welch Text Bk. Naval Archit. 113 (heading) Watertight subdivision of ships.
1917 R. J. Tillyard Biol. Dragonflies i. 1 In his subdivision of the Class of Insecta, Linnaeus placed all the Dragonflies known to him in the single genus Libellula.
1923 Times 5 Jan. 6/1 (headline) ‘Little Bishoprics.’ Arguments Against Subdivision.
1964 Eng. Stud. 45 (Suppl.) 11 His systematic sub-division of the principal language-groups..represents an astonishing linguistic perception.
2005 J. Diamond Collapse (2006) i. 51 A further problem results from land subdivision.
2.
a. Any one of the parts into which a larger whole is divided, a section; esp. a part produced by dividing further something which has already been divided; a division of a division, a subsection.In quot. a1450: a portion of land that has been divided.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > kind or sort > [noun] > a kind, sort, or class > a subordinate class or group
subdivisiona1450
under-kind1571
membera1631
subdenomination1630
subdistinction1665
subkind1820
subgroup1826
subform1844
subclass1852
subset1881
subworld1887
subgenre1903
the world > relative properties > wholeness > incompleteness > part of whole > [noun] > one of the parts into which anything is divided > a subdivision
subdivisiona1450
subsection1621
subdichotomy1644
subdivider1654
specie1670
underpart1711
a1450 Chron. Repton in Jrnl. Derbyshire Archaeol. & Nat. Hist. Soc. (1902) 24 76 Nowe is to be noted that John Bailloll gave his part, beinge... the first of the iij in the Subdyvision, unto penbroke hall in Cambridge.
1590 J. Blagrave Baculum Familliare iv. 14 When you are once paste 10. or 15. degrees, you shall make notes in like manner for euery subdiuision of eache degree.
1643 Sir T. Browne Religio Medici (authorized ed.) i. §52 Methinks amongst those many subdivisions of hell, there might have bin one Limbo left for these. View more context for this quotation
1662 E. Stillingfleet Origines Sacræ i. ii. §6 The Gnosticks and the severall subdivisions of them.
1703 Moxon's Mech. Dyalling (ed. 4) in Moxon's Mech. Exercises (new ed.) 317 For thus proportioning the Divisions in the Semi-circle, you may proportion the Divisions and Sub-divisions of Hours upon the Dyal Plane.
1777 S. Robson Brit. Flora 14 The petiole..subdivided, having two leafits on each subdivision.
1823 S. Smith in York Herald 29 Mar. 2/3 A small subdivision of the clergy of the North Riding of Yorkshire.
1842 J. Gwilt Encycl. Archit. iii. ii. 778 The subdivisions, apartments, or portions whereof a building consists.
1911 Encycl. Brit. XXVI. 922/1 The administrative subdivisions of the Lhasa country..are called jong, or ‘prefecture’.
1934 Webster's New Internat. Dict. Eng. Lang. Break down,..to separate (an account or a budget) into its component parts or subdivisions.
1992 R. MacNeil Burden of Desire iii. 284 Is this what had become of the Christian faith after nineteen centuries: tiny subdivisions bickering in a winter landscape?
1998 World Trade (Nexis) Dec. 42 Beyond ABB's corporate subdivisions, 1,000 or so companies are further broken down into about 5000 profit centers.
b. A subordinate class or division in a system of classification; spec. in later use (Botany) a taxonomic category ranking below division and above class; a group of this rank.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > kind or sort > [noun] > a kind, sort, or class
kinc950
kindOE
distinction?c1225
rowc1300
spece1303
spice1303
fashionc1325
espicec1386
differencea1398
statec1450
sort?1523
notion1531
species1561
vein1568
brood1581
rank1585
order1588
race1590
breed1598
strain1612
batch1616
tap1623
siege1630
subdivision1646
notionality1651
category1660
denomination1664
footmark1666
genus1666
world1685
sortment1718
tribe1731
assortment1767
description1776
style1794
grouping1799
classification1803
subcategory1842
type1854
basket1916
the world > life > biology > taxonomy > taxon > [noun] > section or sub-section
section1720
subsection1813
subgroup1826
subdivision2000
1646 Sir T. Browne Pseudodoxia Epidemica 54 Chrystall..is..reduced by some unto that subdivision which comprehendeth gemmes. View more context for this quotation
1687 Philos. Trans. 1686–7 (Royal Soc.) 16 286 The genuine Umbelli have Pentapetalous Flowers, to each of which, succeed two naked Seeds joined together; these are put under so many sub-divisions, according to the various Figures of their Seeds, and Leaves.
1739 S. Humphreys tr. N. A. Pluche Spectacle de la Nature (ed. 4) II. 9 These Divisions and Subdivisions, with a Variety of others, may be necessary to form a Herbalist, or furnish a Dictionary for a Botanist.
1777 S. Robson Brit. Flora 37 Orders are the subdivisions of Classes.
1878 Bot. Gaz. 3 13 The section Atropis, Trin...would seem also to come under the same sub-division.
1904 Jrnl. N.Y. Bot. Garden 5 58 The genus Caulerpa is represented in the public show cases by several species, illustrating the principal subdivisions of the group.
1967 Bot. Gaz. 128 105/1 Growth retardants have been reported to be inactive at all dosage rates on plants from the subdivision Gymnospermae.
2000 R. B. Hoadley Understanding Wood (rev. ed.) i. 16/2 Using conventional taxonomy, eastern white pine would be classified as follows: Kingdom: plant; division: spermatophytes; subdivision: gymnosperms; order: Coniferales; [etc.].
3. Military.
a. An organizational term for: a subsidiary division within the armed forces; spec. one half of a division (division n. 10c) or company (company n. 4b(b)). Now rare.In early use: spec. the rear half of a division.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > armed forces > the Army > unit of army > [noun] > subdivision
subdivision1616
1616 I. T. ABC of Armes sig. C5v If they should bee driuen to Retreat, all the Rankes chargeing: the Subdiuision (which are the fiue Rankes on the Reare) rather hinder, and hurt their Leaders, then doe any seruice.
1680 R. Harford Eng. Mil. Discipline ii. 16 They which have Fired rise up, and make ready on their Ground, and the Rere Sub-divisions passing through the Intervals, fire in like manner.
1704 Mil. Dict. (ed. 2) (at cited word) Subdivisions, are the lesser parcels, into which a Regiment is divided in marching, being half the greater divisions.
1727 H. Bland Treat. Mil. Discipline v. 60 When a Battalion is divided into three equal Parts or Divisions, each Division is then called a Grand-Division. Sub-Divisions are formed by dividing each Grand-Division into three, four or five equal Parts.
1796 Instr. & Regulations Cavalry 2 Subdivisions; is each fourth division divided in two equal parts, for the purpose of marching on a small front.
1802 C. James New Mil. Dict. (at cited word) A company divided forms two subdivisions.
1858 H. Beveridge Comprehensive Hist. India III. ix. iv. 635 The British force began to advance along the trunk road in a column of sub-divisions.
1882 M. L. Booth & A. L. Alger tr. H. Martin Pop. Hist. France III. xx. 445 The citadel of Saïgon was blown up; but a fort was kept at the mouth of the river, and a naval subdivision was left at the entrance.
1918 Infantry Drill Regulations U.S. Army (U.S. War Dept.) (rev. ed.) 74 The leading company (or subdivision) marches in the direction previously indicated by the major until the command halt is given.
b. A subsidiary division of an artillery battery consisting of one artillery piece and its associated personnel and equipment; = subsection n. 3. historical in later use.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > device for discharging missiles > firearm > piece of artillery > [noun] > a gun with its wagons
subdivision1813
1813 W. G. Eliot Adye's Bombardier & Pocket Gunner (rev. ed.) 143 Two guns, with their detachments, constitute a division; one a sub-division.
1876 G. E. Voyle Mil. Dict. (ed. 3) Sub-division, in artillery, a gun with its wagon.
1889 Standing Orders Royal Regim. Artill. 41 Four-gun Batteries will be divided into two Sections—Right and Left—of 2 Sub-Divisions each.
1988 P. Haythornthwaite Wellington's Specialist Troops 5/1 Each subdivision consisted of one gun, one ammunition-waggon and a gun-crew.
2007 J. Kinard Artillery iv. 140 The organization was in three divisions, of two subdivisions each—a subdivision being of one piece of ordnance, with its ammunition waggon and detachment.
4. North American, Australian, and New Zealand. An area of land subdivided into plots for sale, esp. with a view to development. Also: an area of subdivided land on which houses have been erected; a housing estate.
ΘΚΠ
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > [noun] > site of or for (a) building(s)
toft1001
stead1246
sole1417
sitea1443
plota1450
toftstead1524
ground-plat?a1560
ground-plot1580
seat1615
parterre1671
building-lot1701
emplacement1780
steading1822
building-place1839
block1840
subdivision1857
building-ground1858
building-estate1885
building-land1905
island site1907
island plot1908
tract1912
1857 Illustr. Jrnl. Australasia 3 210 The following is the land sold in the original town of Melbourne; the blocks are given in regular order, with the purchasers of the various sub-divisions.
1876 St. Louis (Missouri) Globe-Democrat 15 Sept. 118/4 (advt.) Watson's Fruit Hill Subdivision. 345 lots, mostly comprised of the residence grounds of R. J. Watson.
1893 Milwaukee (Wisconsin) Sentinel 23 Apr. 2/1 The lots in the new subdivision will be put on the market Saturday, April 29.
1910 Bulletin (Sydney) 13 Jan. 14/3 The land jobber..buys allotments in suburban sub-divisions and sits down tight to wait until other people build expensive residences around his lot.
1926 G. Frankau My Unsentimental Journey xv. 209 The straight road through your new ‘sub-divisions’ (Anglicé—building lots).
1960 V. Packard Waste Makers (1961) xxiv. 299 A subdivision house..in the suburbs may be preferable to an old row house in the city.
1979 Tucson (Arizona) Citizen 20 Sept. 1 a/1 1,700 displaced residents..left flooded parts of 25 subdivisions in Harris and Galveston counties.
1999 N.Z. Herald (Nexis) 10 July (Property) The emphasis on landscaping as a feature of all these subdivisions has added substantially to the cost of each project.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2012; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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