Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
verb (used with object), in·ferred, in·fer·ring.
- to derive by reasoning; conclude or judge from premises or evidence: They inferred his displeasure from his cool tone of voice.
- (of facts, circumstances, statements, etc.) to indicate or involve as a conclusion; lead to.
- to guess; speculate; surmise.
- to hint; imply; suggest.
verb (used without object), in·ferred, in·fer·ring.
- to draw a conclusion, as by reasoning.
verb -fers, -ferring or -ferred (when tr, may take a clause as object)
- to conclude (a state of affairs, supposition, etc) by reasoning from evidence; deduce
- (tr) to have or lead to as a necessary or logical consequence; indicate
- (tr) to hint or imply
1520s, from Latin inferre “bring into, carry in; deduce, infer, conclude, draw an inference; bring against,” from in- “in” (see in- (2)) + ferre “carry, bear,” from PIE *bher- (1) “to bear, to carry, to take” (cf. Sanskrit bharati “carries;” Avestan baraiti “carries;” Old Persian barantiy “they carry;” Armenian berem “I carry;” Greek pherein “to carry;” Old Irish beru/berim “I catch, I bring forth;” Gothic bairan “to carry;” Old English and Old High German beran, Old Norse bera “barrow;” Old Church Slavonic birati “to take;” Russian brat’ “to take,” bremya “a burden”). Sense of “draw a conclusion” is first attested 1520s.