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Inferior vs Infer - What's the difference?

inferior | infer |

As an adjective inferior

is of lower quality.

As a noun inferior

is a person of lower stature to another.

As a verb infer is

to introduce (something) as a reasoned conclusion; to conclude by reasoning or deduction, as from premises or evidence.

inferior

English

Alternative forms

* inferiour (obsolete)

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • of lower quality
  • Anna had always felt inferior to her brother due to poor school grades.
  • * Dryden
  • Whether they are equal or inferior to my other poems, an author is the most improper judge.
  • of lower rank
  • an inferior officer
  • located below
  • # (typography) Printed in subscript.
  • an inferior figure or letter
  • (botany) Situated below some other organ; said of a calyx when free from the ovary, and therefore below it, or of an ovary with an adherent and therefore inferior calyx.
  • (botany) On the side of a flower which is next to the bract; anterior.
  • (astronomy) Nearer to the Sun than the Earth is.
  • the inferior''' or interior planets; an '''inferior conjunction of Mercury or Venus
  • (astronomy) Below the horizon.
  • the inferior part of a meridian

    Usage notes

    (term) and (superior) are generally followed by (to); (than) is seen sometimes, but is viewed as wrong.

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Antonyms

    * superior

    Coordinate terms

    *

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • a person of lower stature to another
  • As you are my inferior , I can tell you to do anything I want.

    Antonyms

    * superior

    Anagrams

    * ----

    infer

    English

    Verb

    (inferr)
  • 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:
  • 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.
  • To lead to (something) as a consequence; to imply. (Now often considered incorrect, especially with a person as subject.)
  • *, II.3:
  • These and a thousand like propositions, which concurre in this purpose, do evidently inferre .
  • * Shakespeare
  • This doth infer the zeal I had to see him.
  • * Sir Thomas More
  • The first part is not the proof of the second, but rather contrariwise, the second inferreth well the first.
  • (obsolete) To cause, inflict (something) (upon) or (to) someone.
  • * 1596 , (Edmund Spenser), The Faerie Queene , VI.8:
  • faire Serena.
  • (obsolete) To introduce (a subject) in speaking, writing etc.; to bring in.
  • * Shakespeare
  • 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

    Synonyms

    * assume, conclude, deduce, construe

    Anagrams

    * ----