*infer*

a. Capable of being inferred or deduced from premises. [ Written also inferrible. ] H. Spencer. [ 1913 Webster ]

A sufficient argument . . . is inferable from these premises. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From Infer. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. The act or process of inferring by deduction or induction. [ 1913 Webster ]

Though it may chance to be right in the conclusions, it is yet unjust and mistaken in the method of inference. Glanvill. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which inferred; a truth or proposition drawn from another which is admitted or supposed to be true; a conclusion; a deduction. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

These inferences, or conclusions, are the effects of reasoning, and the three propositions, taken all together, are called syllogism, or argument. I. Watts.

Syn. -- Conclusion; deduction; consequence. -- Inference, Conclusion. An inference is literally that which is brought in; and hence, a deduction or induction from premises, -- something which follows as certainly or probably true. A conclusion is stronger than an inference; it shuts us up to the result, and terminates inquiry. We infer what is particular or probable; we conclude what is certain. In a chain of reasoning we have many inferences, which lead to the ultimate conclusion. “An inference is a proposition which is perceived to be true, because of its connection with some known fact.” “When something is simply affirmed to be true, it is called a proposition; after it has been found to be true by several reasons or arguments, it is called a conclusion.” I. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Deduced or deducible by inference. “Inferential proofs.” J. S. Mill. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. By way of inference; using inference. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. pl. [ L., fr. inferus underneath. ] (Rom. Antiq.) Sacrifices offered to the souls of deceased heroes or friends. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L., compar. of inferus that is below, underneath, the lower; akin to E. under: cf. F. inférieur. See Under. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Lower in place, rank, value, excellence, etc.; less important or valuable; subordinate; underneath; beneath. [ 1913 Webster ]

A thousand inferior and particular propositions. I. Watts. [ 1913 Webster ]

The body, or, as some love to call it, our inferior nature. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

Whether they are equal or inferior to my other poems, an author is the most improper judge. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Poor or mediocre; as, an inferior quality of goods. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Astron.) (a) Nearer the sun than the earth is; as, the inferior or interior planets; an inferior conjunction of Mercury or Venus. (b) Below the horizon; as, the inferior part of a meridian. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Bot.) (a) 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. (b) On the side of a flower which is next the bract; anterior. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Min.) Junior or subordinate in rank; as, an inferior officer. [ 1913 Webster ]

Inferior court (Law), a court subject to the jurisdiction of another court known as the superior court, or higher court. --
Inferior letter,
Inferior figure (Print.), a small letter or figure standing at the bottom of the line (opposed to superior letter or figure), as in A2, Bn, 2 and n are inferior characters. --
Inferior tide, the tide corresponding to the moon's transit of the meridian, when below the horizon. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A person lower in station, rank, intellect, etc., than another. [ 1913 Webster ]

A great person gets more by obliging his inferior than by disdaining him. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ Cf. F. infériorité. ] The state of being inferior; a lower state or condition; as, inferiority of rank, of talents, of age, of worth. [ 1913 Webster ]

A deep sense of our own great inferiority. Boyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In an inferior manner, or on the inferior part. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ F. infernal, L. infernalis, fr. infernus that which lies beneath, the lower. See Inferior. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Of or pertaining to or suitable for the lower regions, inhabited, according to the ancients, by the dead; pertaining to Pluto's realm of the dead, the Tartarus of the ancients. [ 1913 Webster ]

The Elysian fields, the infernal monarchy. Garth. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Of or pertaining to, resembling, or inhabiting, hell; suitable for hell, or to the character of the inhabitants of hell; hellish; diabolical; as, infernal spirits, or conduct. [ 1913 Webster ]

The instruments or abettors in such infernal dealings. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

Infernal machine, a machine or apparatus maliciously designed to explode, and destroy life or property. --
Infernal stone (lapis infernalis), lunar caustic; formerly so called. The name was also applied to caustic potash.

Syn. -- Tartarean; Stygian; hellish; devilish; diabolical; satanic; fiendish; malicious. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. An inhabitant of the infernal regions; also, the place itself. [ Obs. ] Drayton. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In an infernal manner; diabolically. “Infernally false.” Bp. Hacket. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ It. See Infernal. ] 1. The infernal regions; hell. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

2. Hence: A raging fire. [ PJC ]

At each sudden explosion in the inferno below they sprang back from the brink [ of the volcanic crater ]. D. C. Worcester. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. (Zool.) One of the Inferobranchiata. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. pl. [ NL. See Inferobranchiate. ] (Zool.) A suborder of marine gastropod mollusks, in which the gills are between the foot and the mantle. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. inferus lower + E. branchiate. ] (Zool.) Having the gills on the sides of the body, under the margin of the mantle; belonging to the Inferobranchiata. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Inferable. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. infertilis: cf. F. infertile. See In- not, and Fertile. ] Not fertile; not productive; barren; sterile; unable to propagate its kind; as, an infertile soil; an infertile hybrid; -- of living things and of soil or land. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

adv. In an infertile manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. infertilitas: cf. F. infertilité. ] The state or quality of being infertile; unproductiveness; barrenness. [ 1913 Webster ]

The infertility or noxiousness of the soil. Sir M. Hale. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To infer incorrectly. [ 1913 Webster ]