subagentn.
/ˌsʌbˈeɪdʒ(ə)nt/, U.S. /ˌsəbˈeɪdʒ(ə)nt/ A subordinate agent; (U.S. Law) an agent authorized to transact business or otherwise act on behalf of another.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > delegated authority > one having delegated or derived authority > [noun] > one who acts for another > subordinate
under-agent1677
subagent1683
subfactor1701
1683 R. Baxter Dying Thoughts 18 The Act, observed by us cannot be denied to be such as are specified or modified at least, by the Agents, and the Recipients, and Sub-Agents parts conjunct.
1705 D. Defoe Rev. Affairs France II. 207/1 Their Sub-Agents..are Directed to Cultivate the Product of Lying as may best serve the ends of the Contriver.
1786 Town & Country Mag. Apr. 186/1 The Roman religions are represented by emblems of Rome, Satan, Antichrist and their subagents.
1855 Bouvier's Law Dict. U.S.A. (ed. 5) II. 552/2 A sub-agent is generally invested with the same rights, and incurs the same liabilities in regard to his immediate employers, as if he were the sole and real principal.
?1881 Census Eng. & Wales: Instr. Clerks classifying Occupations & Ages (?1885) 84 Persons working and dealing in various mineral substances. Sub-order 1.—Miners... Underground Agent, Sub-Agent.
1903 Michigan Law Rev. 1 507 The subagent may retain such paper and apply it to the reduction of the pre-existing indebtedness of the remitter.
1938 Amer. Speech 13 190/1 To push, to peddle narcotics, especially as a sub-agent or small-time dealer.
2004 A. Walker Buying & selling your House 222 Many agreements include a clause that gives the agent authority to instruct subagents.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2012; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1683