What is the difference between deduce and infer?
deduce | infer |
To reach a conclusion by applying rules of logic to given premises.
* Alexander Pope
* John Locke
* Sir Walter Scott
(obsolete) To take away; to deduct; to subtract.
(obsolete, Latinism) To lead forth.
* Selden
To introduce (something) as a reasoned conclusion; to conclude by reasoning or deduction, as from premises or evidence.
* 2010 , "Keep calm, but don't carry on", The Economist , 7 Oct 2010:
To lead to (something) as a consequence; to imply. (Now often considered incorrect, especially with a person as subject.)
*, II.3:
* Shakespeare
* Sir Thomas More
(obsolete) To cause, inflict (something) (upon) or (to) someone.
* 1596 , (Edmund Spenser), The Faerie Queene , VI.8:
(obsolete) To introduce (a subject) in speaking, writing etc.; to bring in.
* Shakespeare
Infer is a synonym of deduce.
In transitive terms the difference between deduce and infer
is that deduce is to reach a conclusion by applying rules of logic to given premises while infer is to lead to (something) as a consequence; to imply. (Now often considered incorrect, especially with a person as subject..In obsolete terms the difference between deduce and infer
is that deduce is to take away; to deduct; to subtract while infer is to introduce (a subject) in speaking, writing etc.; to bring in.deduce
English
Verb
- O goddess, say, shall I deduce my rhymes / From the dire nation in its early times?
- Reasoning is nothing but the faculty of deducing unknown truths from principles already known.
- See what regard will be paid to the pedigree which deduces your descent from kings and conquerors.
- to deduce a part from the whole
- (Ben Jonson)
- He should hither deduce a colony.
Usage notes
For example, from the premises "all good people believe in the tooth fairy" and "Jimmy does not believe in the tooth fairy", we deduce the conclusion "Jimmy is not a good person". This particular form of deduction is called a syllogism. Note that in this case we reach a false conclusion by correct deduction from a false premise.Antonyms
* (reach a conclusion by applying rules of logic)Synonyms
* (reach a conclusion by applying rules of logic)Anagrams
* * ----infer
English
Verb
(inferr)- It is dangerous to infer too much from martial bluster in British politics: at the first hint of trouble, channelling Churchill is a default tactic for beleaguered leaders of all sorts.
- These and a thousand like propositions, which concurre in this purpose, do evidently inferre .
- This doth infer the zeal I had to see him.
- The first part is not the proof of the second, but rather contrariwise, the second inferreth well the first.
- faire Serena.
- Full well hath Clifford played the orator, / Inferring arguments of mighty force.
Usage notes
There are two ways in which the word "infer" is sometimes used as if it meant "imply". "Implication" is done by a person when making a "statement", whereas "inference" is done to a proposition after it had already been made or assumed. Secondly, the word "infer" can sometimes be used to mean "allude" or "express" in a suggestive manner rather than as a direct "statement". Using the word "infer" in this sense is now generally considered incorrect.[http://englishplus.com/grammar/00000232.htm