[Grammar] on subordination to

[khanhhung2512]

Altruism means caring about the needs of others more than your own. However, today I've read the following definition:
altruism n. Benevolence to others on subordination to self-interest.
The verb subordinate means to treat sb/sth as less important than sb/sth else. For example, "safety considerations were subordinated to commercial interests," means "commercial interests have priority over safety considerations."
Hence, logically, the definition above would mean "self-interest is placed in a higher position than kindness to others."
So, in summary, is the definition above not correct or else, what is the mistake in my reasoning?
Please give me your opinions. Thank you so very much,
Hung.

 

[Raymott]

Altruism means caring about the needs of others more than your own. However, today I've read the following definition:
altruism n. Benevolence to others on subordination to self-interest.
The verb subordinate means to treat sb/sth as less important than sb/sth else. For example, "safety considerations were subordinated to commercial interests," means "commercial interests have priority over safety considerations."
Hence, logically, the definition above would mean "self-interest is placed in a higher position than kindness to others."
So, in summary, is the definition above not correct or else, what is the mistake in my reasoning?
Please give me your opinions. Thank you so very much,
Hung.

The definition seems wrong. Where did you find it?
I haven't heard "on subordination to" before. Is it possibly a non-native's error with prepositions?

 

[khanhhung2512]

The definition seems wrong. Where did you find it?
I haven't heard "on subordination to" before. Is it possibly a non-native's error with prepositions?

I read that definition in "5000 Collegiate Words with Brief Definitions."
This is the site:

[URL]http://www.freevocabulary.com/[/URL]
[URL]http://www.freevocabulary.com/print.htm[/URL]

 

[Rover_KE]

That site has some unusual definitions and a few typos:

abhorrence - The act of detesting extremely
able-bodied - Competent for physical service
abridge - to make shorter in words, leaning (sic) out minor particles
abyss - Bottomless gulf

and those are taken only from the first 50 of 5,000 words.

Bookmark OneLook.com for free access to more reliable dictionaries (click on the underlined link).

Rover

 

[khanhhung2512]

Bookmark OneLook.com for free access to more reliable dictionaries (click on the underlined link).

Thanks. Actually I already used some good dictionaries like Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary.
I'm just trying to improve my vocabulary by learning these 5000 Collegiate Words.

That site has some unusual definitions and a few typos:
abhorrence - The act of detesting extremely
able-bodied - Competent for physical service
abridge - to make shorter in words, keeping the essential features, leaning out minor particles
abyss - Bottomless gulf
and those are taken only from the first 50 of 5,000 words.

Since it only provides brief definitions, I think those that you cited are acceptable. (Please correct me if you think otherwise.)
Of course, however, I think the definition I cited is problematic.

altruism n. Benevolence to others on subordination to self-interest.

 

[bhaisahab]

Thanks. Actually I already used some good dictionaries like Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary.
I'm just trying to improve my vocabulary by learning these 5000 Collegiate Words.

Since it only provides brief definitions, I think those that you cited are acceptable. (Please correct me if you think otherwise.)
Of course, however, I think the definition I cited is problematic.

abhorrence - The act of detesting extremely
able-bodied - Competent for physical service
abridge - to make shorter in words, keeping the essential features, leaning out minor particles
abyss - Bottomless gulf
I don't find them acceptable.

 

[khanhhung2512]

abhorrence - The act of detesting extremely
able-bodied - Competent for physical service
abridge - to make shorter in words, keeping the essential features, leaning out minor particles
abyss - Bottomless gulf
I don't find them acceptable.

How so?

 

[bhaisahab]

How so?

They are not natural English. To me they look like they were written by a non-native speaker. Take Rover's advice and use OneLook.com

 

[Raymott]

altruism n. Benevolence to others on subordination to self-interest.
In any case this could be fixed with:
"Benevolence to others by/with subordination of self-interest."
"Subordination of self-interest to the benevolence of others."