subsume
UK: səbˈsjuːm | US: səbˈsuːm
vt. to include or absorb something into a larger group or category
vt. (logic) to consider a specific instance as part of a general principle
The word "subsume" originates from Latin subsumere, combining sub- (under) and sumere (to take). The prefix sub- implies inclusion or absorption into a broader framework, while sumere reflects the act of taking or incorporating. Over time, the term evolved in scholarly and logical contexts to describe the process of classifying specific cases under general rules or categories. The morphemes retain their original Latin spellings, preserving the word's structural integrity.
The new theory seeks to subsume earlier findings into a unified framework.
Under this classification system, birds are subsumed under the category of vertebrates.
The judge subsumed the defendant's actions under the broader legal definition of fraud.
Modern physics attempts to subsume quantum mechanics and relativity into a single theory.
The report subsumes all regional data under national statistics.