Nearby Words
verb (used with object)
1.
to derive by reasoning; conclude or judge from premises or evidence: They inferred his displeasure from his cool tone of voice.
2.
(of facts, circumstances, statements, etc.) to indicate or involve as a conclusion; lead to.
3.
to guess; speculate; surmise.
4.
to hint; imply; suggest.
verb (used without object)
5.
to draw a conclusion, as by reasoning.
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Infer
is an SAT word you need to know.
So is clandestine. Does it mean:
| kept or done in secret, often in order to conceal an illicit or improper purpose |
| a complete change of form, structure, or substance, as transformation, any complete change in appearance, character or circumstances |
Related forms
in·fer·a·ble, in·fer·i·ble, in·fer·ri·ble, adjective
in·fer·a·bly, adverb
in·fer·rer, noun
mis·in·fer, verb, -ferred, -fer·ring.
non·in·fer·a·ble, adjective
EXPANDnon·in·fer·a·b·ly, adverb
pre·in·fer, verb (used with object), -ferred, -fer·ring.
qua·si-in·ferred, adjective
re·in·fer, verb (used with object), -ferred, -fer·ring.
sub·in·fer, verb, -ferred, -fer·ring.
su·per·in·fer, verb (used with object), -ferred, -fer·ring.
un·in·fer·a·ble, adjective
un·in·fer·a·b·ly, adverb
un·in·ferred, adjective
un·in·fer·ri·ble, adjective
un·in·fer·ri·b·ly, adverb
COLLAPSESynonyms
1. deduce, reason, guess.
1. deduce, reason, guess.
Usage note
Infer has been used to mean “to hint or suggest” since the 16th century by speakers and writers of unquestioned ability and eminence: The next speaker criticized the proposal, inferring that it was made solely to embarrass the government. Despite its long history, many 20th-century usage guides condemn the use, maintaining that the proper word for the intended sense is imply and that to use infer is to lose a valuable distinction between the two words.EXPAND
Although the claimed distinction has probably existed chiefly in the pronouncements of usage guides, and although the use of infer to mean “to suggest” usually produces no ambiguity, the distinction too has a long history and is widely observed by many speakers and writers.
COLLAPSE
Infer has been used to mean “to hint or suggest” since the 16th century by speakers and writers of unquestioned ability and eminence: The next speaker criticized the proposal, inferring that it was made solely to embarrass the government. Despite its long history, many 20th-century usage guides condemn the use, maintaining that the proper word for the intended sense is imply and that to use infer is to lose a valuable distinction between the two words.EXPAND
Although the claimed distinction has probably existed chiefly in the pronouncements of usage guides, and although the use of infer to mean “to suggest” usually produces no ambiguity, the distinction too has a long history and is widely observed by many speakers and writers.
COLLAPSE
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source
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Link To infer
Collins
World English Dictionary
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
infer
1520s, from L. inferre "bring into, cause," from in- "in" + ferre "carry, bear," from PIE *bher- (1) "to bear, to carry, to take" (cf. Skt. bharati "carries;" Avestan baraiti "carries;" O.Pers. barantiy "they carry;" Armenian berem "I carry;" Gk. pherein "to carry;" O.Ir. beru/berim "I catch, I bring
EXPANDforth;" Goth. bairan "to carry;" O.E., O.H.G. beran, O.N. bera "barrow;" O.C.S. birati "to take;" Rus. brat' "to take," bremya "a burden"). Sense of "draw a conclusion" is first attested 1520s.
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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