sub·or·di·nate 1 /sə-'bȯrd-ən-ət/ adj
1: placed in or occupying a lower rank, class, or position
2: submissive to or controlled by authority
sub·or·di·nate 2 /sə-'bȯrd-ən-ˌāt/ vt -nat·ed, -nat·ing: to assign lower priority to (as a debt or creditor): postpone satisfaction of until after satisfaction of another
the equitable assignee will be subordinated to the rights of the assignor's trustee in bankruptcy — J. D. Calamari and J. M. Perillo
Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam-Webster. 1996.