inferior English · revision 39460

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=?a1475 (?a1425), translation of Higden's Polychronicon|origins=la īnferus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * UK: /ɪnˈfɪə.ɹi.ə/^(Wiktionary)

+ * US: /ɪnˈfɪɹ.i.ɚ/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|īnferior|t=lower, farther down]], the comparative of [[m|la|īnferus|t=that is below or beneath]].^(OED 2026)^(AHD 2024)^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002) Etymonline and Weekley derive ''īnferus'' from [[m|la|īnfrā|t=below]],^(Etymonline)^(Weekley 1921) while Skeat notes that it is itself a comparative form.^(Skeat 1911) Barnhart and the American Heritage Dictionary relate it to [[sa|अधर|tr=ádhara|t=lower]] and [[got|𐌿𐌽𐌳𐌰𐍂|tr=undar|t=under]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD 2024) though Skeat thought the Sanskrit comparison doubtful.^(Skeat 1911) The OED compares [[fr|inférieur]], found in the 16th century.^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Lower in position, situated below: ?a1475, in a translation (perhaps of about 1425) of Higden's ''Polychronicon''.^(OED 2026)^(Barnhart 1988) Etymonline dates it to the early 15th century, used of low-lying land.^(Etymonline) The noun, a person of lower rank, is recorded before 1425.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The figurative senses came in the 1530s: lower in rank, degree or importance, and, used absolutely, of low quality.^(Etymonline)^(OED 2026)^(Hoad 1986) From 1535 it was used with ''to'' (earlier also ''unto''), in the Coverdale Bible.^(OED 2026) The physical sense survives mainly in technical language:^(OED 2026)^(Hoad 1986) in anatomy for an organ below another of the same kind (1563), in astronomy for the planets whose orbits lie inside the Earth's (1658), and in botany for an ovary set below the other parts of the flower (1785).^(OED 2026)^(SOED 2002) In modern use the absolute sense refers above all to quality.^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1425 – as a noun, a person of lower rank.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+ * ?a1475 – lower in position.^(OED 2026)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1531 – lower in rank, degree or quality, in Elyot.^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1535 – ''inferior to'', in the Coverdale Bible.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1563 – in anatomy, situated below a similar part.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1641 – later in time.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1658 – in astronomy, of planets whose orbits lie within the Earth's.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1785 – in botany, of an ovary below the other floral parts.^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Lower in [[rank]], status or importance; [[subordinate]].^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)

+ # Lower in quality or value; poor or [[mediocre]].^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)

+ # Situated below or lower down; in anatomy, below another part of the same kind.^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)^(OED 2026)

+ # (botany) Of an [[ovary]]: set below the other parts of the flower.^(Collins 2023)^(OED 2026)

+ # (astronomy) Of a [[planet]]: having an orbit between the Sun and the Earth.^(Collins 2023)^(OED 2026)

+ # (printing) Of a character: set below the line; [[subscript]].^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person lower than another in rank, status or ability.^(MWU 2024)^(Collins 2023)

+ # (printing) A subscript character.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[inferiority]]

+ * [[inferiorly]]

+ * [[inferior planet]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[superior]]

+ * [[infra-]]

+ * [[infernal]]

+ * [[under]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}