inference 
Mir I'Yniialian inf.- .iinttiiinl. Scientific In- 
ferences lire either inductive orhyjxithutic. See iniluctinn, 
a, anil analogy, :t. 
2. Reasoning from effect to cause ; KMOnlng 
from signs; conjecture from premises or cri- 
teria; hypothesis. 
An excellent discourse on ... the Inexpressible happi- 
ness and satisfaction of a holy life, with pertinent infer- 
ences to prepare us for death mid a future state. 
Evelyn, Diary, Nov. 21, 1708. 
lie has made not only illogical inference*, but false state- 
inenN. Macaulay, Mitforu's Hist Greece. 
Take, by contrast, the word inference, which I have been 
using : It may stand for the act of inferring, as I have used 
it ; nr for the connecting principle, or inferentia, between 
premises and conclusions ; or for the conclusion itself. 
J. It. Newman, Oram. of Assent, p. 264. 
Alternative inference. See alternative. - Ampllative 
Inference, See explicative inference, below. An^lQgi- 
cal inference, the inference that a certain thing, which 
is known to possess a certain number of characters be- 
longing to a limited number of objects or to one only, 
also possesses another character common to those ob- 
jects. Siieh would be the Inference that Mara is Inhab- 
ited, owing to Its general resemblance to the earth. Mill 
calls this Inference from particulars to particulars, and 
makes it the basis of induction. Apagoglcal infer- 
ence, an inference reposing on the principle of contra- 
diction, that A and not-A cannot be predicated of the 
same subject ; the inference that a proposition is false 
because it leads to a false conclusion. Such is the ex- 
ample concerning mercury, under deductire inference, 
below. Comparative inference. See comparative. 
Complete inference, an Inference whose leading prin- 
ciple involves no matter of fact over and above what 
Is implied in the very conception of reasoning or infer- 
ence : opposed to incomplete inference, or enthymcipc. 
Thus, If a little girl says to herself, "It la naughty to do 
what mamma tells me not to do ; but mamma tells me 
not to squint; therefore, it Is naughty to squint," this is 
a complete Inference ; while If the first premise does not 
clearly and explicitly appear in her thought, although 
really operative In leading her to the conclusion, it ceases 
to be properly a premise, and the inference is incomplete. 
Correct inference, an Inference which conforms to 
the rules of logic, whether the premises are true or not. 
Deductive inference, inference from a general prin- 
ciple, or the application of a precept or maxim to a par- 
ticular case recognized as coming under It: a phrase 
loosely applied to all explicative Inference. Example: 
Mercury is a metal, and mercury is liquid ; hence, not all 
metals are solid. The general rule here la that all metals 
are solid, which is concluded to be false, because the ne- 
cessary consequence that mercury would be solid Is false. 
Direct deductive inference, the simple inference 
from an antecedent to a consequent, in virtue of a belief 
in their connection as such. Example: All men die; Enoch 
and Elijah were men ; therefore they must have died. 
Disjunctive Inference. Same as alternative inference. 
Explicative Inference, an Inference which consists 
in the observation of new relations between the parts of a 
mental diagram (see above) constructed without addition 
to the facts contained in the premises. It Infers no more 
than is strictly involved in the facts contained in the 
premises, which It thus unfolds or explicates. This Is the 
opposite of ampliatioe inference, In which, In endeavoring 
to frame a representation, not merely of the facts contained 
in the premises, but also of the way In which they have 
come to present themselves, wo are led to add to the facts 
directly observed. Thus, if I see the full moon partly 
risen above the horizon, it is absolutely out of my power 
not to Imagine the entire disk as completed, and then par- 
tially hidden ; and it will be an addition to and correction 
of this idea If I then stop to reflect that since the moon 
rose last the hidden part may have been torn away : the 
inference that the disk of the moon Is complete is an Irre- 
sistible ampllative inference. All the demonstrations of 
mathematics proceed by explicative Inferences. Fer- 
matlan inference. See Fermatian. Hypothetic in- 
ference, the inference that a hypothesis, or supposition, 
Is true because its consequences, so far as tried, have 
been found to be true ; in a wider sense, the inference that 
a hypothesis resembles the truth as much as its conse- 
quences have been found to resemble the truth. Thus, 
schliemann supposes the story of Troy to be historically 
true in some measure, on account of the agreement of 
Homer's narrative with the findings in his excavations, all 
of which would be natural results of the truth of the hy- 
pothesisImmediate inference. See immediate. In- 
complete Inference. See complete inference, above. 
Indirect Inference, any Inference reposing on the prin- 
ciple that the consequence of a consequence is itself a con- 
sequence. The same inference will IKS regarded as direct 
or indirect, according to the degree of Importance attached 
to the part this principle plays in it. Example : All men 
die ; but if Enoch and Elijah died, the Bible errs ; hence, 
it Enoch and Elijah were men, the Bible errs. Inductive 
Inference, soeinluction, r>. - Inference of transposed 
quantity, any inference which reposes on the fact that 
a certain lot of things is finite in numlier. so that the in- 
ference would lose Its cogency were this not the case. 
The following is an example : Every Hottentot kills a Hot- 
tentot. ; but nobody is killed by more than one person ; 
consequently, every Hottentot Is killed by a Hottentot. 
If the foolish tlrst premise is supposed to hold good of 
the Unite number of Hottentots who are living at any 
one time, the inference is conclusive. But if the intinite 
succession of tri'nerations is taken into account, then each 
Hottentot miKht kill a Hottentot of the succeeding gener- 
ation, say one of his sons, and yet niunv might escape be- 
ing killed. Leading principle of inference, the for- 
mula of the mental h:il>it governing an inference. Ne- 
cessary inference, an explicative inference in which it is 
logically impossible for the premises to he true without 
t he t ruth of the conclusion. Probable inference, a kind 
of inferenceemnracing all ampllative and some explicit h e 
inference, in which the premises are recognized as |>ossibly 
true without the truth of the cor, elusion hut in which it is 
felt that the reasoiier is f. tlli > wing a rule which may be trust- 
ed to lead him to the truth in the main and in the long run. 
3081 
Rlcardlan inference, the mode of Inference employed 
by Kicardo to establish his theory of rent. See Jiicanttan. 
Statistical inference, an inference in regard to the 
magnitude of a quantity, here it is concluded that a 
certain value Is the most probable, and that other possi- 
ble values gradually fall olf in probability as they depart 
from the most probable value. All the inferences of 
those sciences which are dominated by mathematics ore 
of thi* character. = Syn. Analusi*, Anticipation, Argu- 
ment, Argumentation. Auay, Aarnt, A**umptum,Cmclu- 
nun. Conjecture, Conviction, Corollary, Criterion, Decision, 
Deduction, Demonstration, Dilemma, Discooenj, Stench, 
KnthyiHfinf, Kxaminatiun, h'x/triiiieiit, Kxfrimentation, 
Fitvftng, Forecast, Generalization, Gueis, Hypothetic Illa- 
tion, Induction, Inquiry, Investigation, Judgment, Lent- 
ma. Moral, Persuasion, Parian, Prediction, Prevision, Pre- 
sumption, Isolation, Prognontication, Proof, Ratiocina- 
tion, Kf atoning. Research, Si/tiny, Surmise, Test, Theorem, 
Verdict. Of these words, illation Is a strict synonym for 
inference In the first and principal meaning of the latter 
word, but Is pedantic and little used. Reasoning has the 
same meaning, but Is not used as a relative noun with of; 
thus, we speak of the inference of the conclusion from 
the premises, and of reasoning from the premises to the 
conclusion. A reasoning may consist of a series of acts 
of inference. Ratiocination is abstract and severe reason- 
ing, involvingonlynecessaryinferences. Conclusion differs 
from inference mainly in being applied preferentially to 
the result of the act called inference ; but conclusion would 
further usually imply a stronger degree of persuasion than 
inference. Conviction and perxuaiiivn denote the belief 
attained, or Its attainment, from a psychological point of 
view, while inference, illation, reasoning, ratiocination,*! 
conclusion direct attention to the logic of the procedure. 
Conviction is perhaps a stronger word than persuasion, 
and more confined to serious and moral inferences. /' 
cision, judgment, finding, and rerdict are inferences from 
which practical results will Immediately follow. Discov- 
ery Is the inferential or other attainment of a new truth. 
Analysis,assay,examination,experiment,experimentation, 
inquiry, investigation, and research are processes analo- 
gous to Inference, and also Involving acts of Inference. 
Anticipation, assent, assumption, and presumption express 
the attainment of belief either without Inference or con- 
sidered Independently of any inference. Presumption is 
used for a probabl e Inference or for the ground of It. Argu- 
ment, argumentation, demonstration, probation, and proof 
set forth the logic of Inferences already drawn. Criterion 
and test are rules of inference. Klench is that relation 
between the premises which compels assent to the conclu- 
sion ; it U translated "evidence " in Heb. xL 1, where on 
Intellectual perception is meant. Corollar;/, deduction, 
dilemma, enthymtme, forecast, generalization, induction, 
lemma, moral, porism, prediction, prevision, prognostica- 
tion, lifting, ana theorem are special kinds of inference. 
(See these words.) Conjecture, guess, hypothesis, and sur- 
mise are synonyms of inference In its secondary sense. 
Guess and surmise are weaker words. 
inferential (iu-fe-ren'shal), a. [< ML. inferen- 
tia, inference, -f -/.] Of or pertaining to an 
inference; deduced or deduciblo by inference. 
It Is not on inferential, but a palpable fact, that Eng- 
land is crowded. //. James, Jr., Tram. Sketches, p. 15. 
The faith of Christ is not Identical with the body of in- 
frrential theology which is the growth of later ages. 
Contemjiorary Ret., L. 350. 
inferentially (in-fe-ren'shal-i), adc. In an in- 
ferential manner; \>y way 'of inference. 
It Is shown inferentially that movements correspond to 
the action of the central nerve-mechanism. 
F. Warner, Physical Expression, p. 50. 
inferiae (in-fe'ri-e), n. pi. [L., < inferi, the in- 
habitants of the infernal regions, the dead: see 
inferior, infernal.'] Among the ancient Romans, 
sacrifices offered to the souls of deceased mem- 
bers of their families. 
inferior (in-fe'ri-or), a. and n. [= F. iiiferieur 
= Sp. Pg. inferior = It. inferiors, < L. inferior, 
lower, inferior, compar. of inferus, low, nether, 
underground, orig. a compar. Cf. Skt. adhara, 
lower, related with adhas, down, beneath.] I. 
<i. 1. Lower in space; situated below or in 
a lower position; subjacent: as, the inferior 
maxillary bone; the inferior limb of the moon. 
The right mcmbrana tympanl was entirely destroyed, 
with the exception of a narrow rim, the remains of the in- 
ferior and posterior portions of the membrane. 
O. S. Hall, German Culture, p. 245. 
The mouth, Instead of opening In the inferior part of 
the head, as In common sharks, was at the extremity of 
the head, the jaws having the same bend. 
Nature, XXX. 368. 
2. Lower in grade or in any scale of reckon- 
ing; less important or valuable; of smaller 
consideration ; subordinate : as, goods of infe- 
rior quality ; a man of inferior rank. 
Our nation Is In nothing inferiour to the French or Ital- 
ian for cople of language, subtil tie of deuice, good method 
and proportion in any forme of poeme. 
Puttenham, Arte of Eng. Poesie, p. 48. 
The body, or, as some love to call it, our inferiour nature, 
is wiser in its own plain way, and attends ita own business 
more directly than the mind, with all its boasted subtilt y. 
Burke, Vind. of Nat. Society. 
Why he at the charge of providing logic of the best 
auditor; when a very iijfriirr article will be equally ac- 
ceptable 7 ilacaula;/, Gladstone on Church and State. 
3. In 60*., growing below some other organ. 
An inferior calyx is one that Is inserted below tha ovary, 
or free ; an inferior ovary is one with adnate or superior 
calyx. Compare superior. 
infernal 
4. In axtrtin.: (<i) Situated or occurring between 
the earth and the sun: as, the inferior planets ; 
an inferior conjunction of Mercury and Venuw. 
(b) Lying below the horizon: as, the inferior 
part of a meridian. 5. In music, lower in pitch. 
6. In entom., pertaining to the lower or ven- 
tral surface of an insect; below; nearer the 
ventral surface than other parts. 7. In print- 
ing, occupying the lower part of the shank of 
the type; standing below other type in the 
same line: as, the inferior figures used in 
chemical notation Inferior antenna or eyes, 
antenna; or eyes situated on the lower surface of the 
head. Inferior court, (a) A court not of general juris- 
diction. (6) A court the proceedings or determinations 
of which ore subject to the supervision or review of an- 
other court, of general jurisdiction, of the same state. Few 
phrases In law are more indeterminate than this. It is a 
well-settled maxim that jurisdiction Is presumed in favor 
of the proceedings of superior, but not those of Inferior, 
court*. The rule originated In England, where the courts of 
Chancery, Queen's (or King's) Bench, Common Fleas, and 
Exchequer, all having an ancient common-law existence, 
and general, though not identical, jurisdiction, were 
known as the superior courts ; and thedlstlnctlon between 
them and Inferior courts of special or limited jurisdiction 
was clear. In American law the term is variously used, 
without on exact meaning, except as afforded by the con- 
text. Inferior margin of a wing, the margin lying be- 
neath when the wing is folded against the body ; the an- 
terior margin : used principally in describing the tegmlna 
of grasshoppers, etc. Inferior surface of a wing, the 
surface lying beneath when the wing U spread. Inferior 
valve, In zool., the valve of an adherent bivalve by which 
it Is united to other substances. Inferior wings, in en- 
torn., the posterior or hind wings : so called because they 
fold under the anterior pair. 
II. n. A person who ranks below another; 
one who holds a lower place ; a subordinate : 
as, an inferior in qualifications or experience ; 
the inferiors in a great household. 
It Is fit I should commit offence to my inferiors. 
Shot., Cymbeline, IL 1. 
A person gets more by obliging his inferiour than by 
disdaining him. South, Sermons. 
The man who chooses to be with his inferiors Is de- 
graded. J. F. Clarke, Self-Culture, p. 248. 
inferiority (in-fe-ri-or'i-ti), n. [= F. inferio- 
rM = Sp. iiiferioridad = Pg. inferioridade = It. 
inferiority, < ML. iferiorita(t-)g, < L. inferior, 
lower : see inferior.'] 1 . The state of being in- 
ferior, especially in degree or quality ; a lower 
state or condition. 
The genuine effect of a nearer or more attentive view of 
infinite excellency is a deep sense of our own great m- 
feriority to it. Boyle, Works, V. 164. 
I declare I always feel my inferiority almost too much 
when I am with people who can really talk talk like 
that C. F. Woolson, Jupiter Lights, xv. 
2. In logic, the character of a sign, name, prop- 
osition, or inference which is applicable to only 
a part of the cases to which another is applica- 
ble. 
inferiorly (in-fe'ri-or-li), atlr. In an inferior 
manner, position, or relation; on or in the di- 
rection of the lower part or the inferior surface : 
as, an insect marked inferiorly with black, or 
having a band dilated inferiorly. 
infernal (in-fer'nal), a. and . [< ME. infernal, 
< OF. enfernal, infernal, F. infernal = Pr. infer- 
nal, yfernal = Sp. Pg. infernal = It. infernale, 
< LL. infemalis, belonging to the lower regions, 
< L. infernus, lower, underground, belonging 
to the lower regions, < inferus, low : see infe- 
rior.] L a. 1. Pertaining to the lower re- 
gions, or regions of the dead, the Tartarus of 
the ancients. 
The flocking shadows pale 
Troop to the infernal jail ; 
Each fetter'd ghost slip* to his several grave. 
Milton, Nativity, 1. 233. 
As deep beneath th' infmial centre huri'd 
As from that centre to th' ethereal world. 
Pope, Iliad, vili. ID. 
O thou, whose worth thy wond'rous works proclaim ; 
The flames, thy piety ; the world, thy fame ; 
Though great be thy request, yet shalt thou see 
Th' Elyslan fields, th' infernal monarchy. 
Garth, tr. of Ovid's Meiamorph., xiT. 
2. Pertaining to or resembling hell; inhabiting 
hell ; suitable or appropriate to hell or its in- 
habitants ; hellish: fiendish ; diabolical : as, in- 
fcrnal cruelty. [Often used colloquially as an 
adjectiveof emphasis, equivalent to outrageous: 
as, an infernal shame; an infernal nuisance.] 
A goat's rough body bore a lion's head ; 
Her pitchy nostrils flaky flames expire: 
Her gaping throat emits infernal fire. 
Pope, Iliad, vL -4. 
The instruments or abettors In snch infernal dealings. 
Addison, Spectator, No. 243. 
To look at Him who form'd us and redeem'd, . . . 
To recollect that, In a form like oars. 
He bruls'd beneath his feet th 1 infernal powers. 
Coicper, Charity, 1. 584. 
