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Webster 1913 Edition

Inferior

In-fe′ri-or

,
Adj.
[L., compar. of
inferus
that is below, underneath, the lower; akin to E.
under
: cf. F.
inférieur
. See
Under
.]
1.
Lower in place, rank, value, excellence, etc.; less important or valuable; subordinate; underneath; beneath.
A thousand
inferior
and particular propositions.
I. Watts.
The body, or, as some love to call it, our
inferior
nature.
Burke.
Whether they are equal or
inferior
to my other poems, an author is the most improper judge.
Dryden.
2.
Poor or mediocre;
as, an
inferior
quality of goods
.
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
.
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.
5.
(Min.)
Junior or subordinate in rank;
as, an
inferior
officer
.
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 A
2
, B
n
, 2 and n are
inferior
characters
.
–
Inferior tide
,
the tide corresponding to the moon’s transit of the meridian, when below the horizon.

In-fe′ri-or

,
Noun.
A person lower in station, rank, intellect, etc., than another.
A great person gets more by obliging his
inferior
than by disdaining him.
South.

Webster 1828 Edition

Inferior

INFE'RIOR

,
Adj.
[L. comp. from inferus, low.]
1.
Lower in place.
2.
Lower in station, age, or rank in life. Pay due respect to those who are superior in station, and due civility to those who are inferior.
3.
Lower in excellence or value; as a poem of inferior merit; cloth of inferior quality or price.
4.
Subordinate; of less importance. Attend to health and safety; ease and convenience are inferior considerations.

INFE'RIOR

,
Noun.
A person who is younger, or of a lower station or rank in society.
A person gets more by obliging his inferior, than by disdaining him.

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