subsensen.

1657 J. Tombes Anti-pædobaptism: 3rd Pt. xcv. 820 The proper notion of unclean is (in that place according to the subsense which the vision aimed at) one that being uncircumcised might not be gone into to talk with familiarly.

1876 D. D. Whedon Pop. Comm. New Test. IV. (Gal. iv. 21) 234/2 An allegory is simply an external surface history under which there lies an internal subsense.

1877 J. M. Ross Globe Encycl. II. 606/2 A mystic, spiritual, mediate, or sub-sense is sought for when the literal is thought not to be subservient to morality.

1981 H. Clarke Homer's Readers ii. 62 Homer's verses were shown to conceal a hyponoia, a ‘subsense’ or ‘hidden meaning’.

1876 Irish Law Times Rep. 10 174/2 The plaintiff proved that they [sc. words] were published in the sense alleged, but still in the sub-sense that they were not actionable.

1900 Notes & Queries 20 Oct. 319/1 Of thirty-three senses and sub-senses of intend not more than six are now in use.

1947 E. Partridge Usage & Abusage 134/2 Titanic..is frequently employed with the sub-sense of ‘extraordinarily powerful’.

1996 Eng. Today 12 61/2 New entries as..sod (subsense 3: ‘Chiefly British slang..to damn: Sod the bloody bastard!’).