Guess vs Infer - What's the difference?
guess | infer | Related terms |
To reach a partly (or totally) unqualified conclusion.
To solve by a correct conjecture; to conjecture rightly.
(chiefly, US) to suppose (introducing a proposition of uncertain plausibility).
* Shakespeare
* Alexander Pope
*
(obsolete) To hit upon or reproduce by memory.
* Shakespeare
A prediction about the outcome of something, typically made without factual evidence or support.
*
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
In obsolete terms the difference between guess and infer
is that guess is to hit upon or reproduce by memory while infer is to introduce (a subject) in speaking, writing etc.; to bring in.As verbs the difference between guess and infer
is that guess is to reach a partly (or totally) unqualified conclusion while infer is to introduce (something) as a reasoned conclusion; to conclude by reasoning or deduction, as from premises or evidence.As a noun guess
is a prediction about the outcome of something, typically made without factual evidence or support.guess
English
Etymology 1
From (etyl) . More at (l).Verb
- He who guesses the riddle shall have the ring.
- That album is quite hard to find, but I guess you could try ordering it online.
- Not all together; better far, I guess , / That we do make our entrance several ways.
- But in known images of life I guess / The labour greater.
- Tell me their words, as near as thou canst guess them.
Synonyms
* hypothesize * take a stab * speculateDerived terms
* foreguess * guess what * guessable * guesser * guessing game * guesstimate * guesswork * keep someone guessing * no prize for guessing * out-guess * second-guess * you'll never guessEtymology 2
From (etyl) gesse. Cognate with (etyl) .Noun
(es)- If you don't know the answer, take a guess .
Synonyms
* estimate * hypothesis * predictionDerived terms
* another-guess * anyone's guess * by guess or by gosh * educated guess * guesswork * guesstimate * otherguess * take a guess * your guess is as good as mineExternal links
* *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