inferior
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Pronunciation
Forms
īnferior (comparative, neuter īnferius); third declension[1]
Etymology
It is the comparative of īnferus “below”.[2][3]
Earliest recorded meaning
The OLD's earliest citations are from Plautus, of the lower of a pair, and Cato, of position.[2] Köbler's first source is Cicero; he dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[4]
Semantic evolution
It meant lower in position, as in Cato, and in Plautus the lower of two.[2] In Varro it meant later in time, and in Cicero lower in rank and of lower quality, weaker, inferior.[2]
In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant lower, below.[5] British Medieval Latin used it for lower in position, and of a district nearer the sea.[6] It was borrowed into Italian inferiore and French inférieur, and gave English inferior in the early 15th century, first of low-lying land.[1][3]
Timeline
- c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of the lower of two.[2][4]
- 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of position.[2][4]
- 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of rank.[2][4]
- early 15th century – English inferior is recorded.[3]
Meanings
Adjective
Related words
References
- ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
- ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
- ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
- ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
- ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press