sub-meaningn.
/ˈsʌbˌmiːnɪŋ/, U.S. /ˈsəbˌminɪŋ/ A hidden or underlying meaning; a secondary or subsidiary meaning. Cf. subsense n.
ΚΠ
1655 J. Goodwin Fresh Discov. 24 Whereas you say, you depend upon Gods Faithfulnesse, if your sub-meaning be, that I do otherwise..you put me into a Bears-skin.
1792 Bee 22 Aug. 243 It is these delicate submeanings, which excite the ecstatic pleasure that a feeling mind alone can know.
1845 S. Laing Notes German-Catholic Church i. 12 Scriptural texts and facts..are generally more impressive, truthful, and precious for religion, in the plain obvious sense, without any sub-meaning at all, than when twisted into a theological conundrum of hidden allusion.
1883 Harper's Mag. Jan. 179/2 Some subtle sub-meaning [is] also conveyed.
1917 J. Galsworthy Beyond ii. vi. 130 He talked without cynical submeanings.
1980 Times 24 Jan. 12/2 It took three seconds flat for ‘liberated’ to acquire the sub-meaning of ‘promiscuous’.
2003 Early Sci. & Med. 8 16 For the sub-meanings of aqua, see..Cassell's Latin-English Dictionary.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2012; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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