inferior Latin · revision 8372

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Plautus|origins=la īnferus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ĩːˈfɛ.ri.ɔr]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [iɱˈfɛː.ri.or]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''īnferior''' (comparative, neuter īnferius); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the comparative of [[īnferus]] “below”.^(OLD 2012)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The OLD's earliest citations are from Plautus, of the lower of a pair, and Cato, of position.^(OLD 2012) Köbler's first source is Cicero; he dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant lower in position, as in Cato, and in Plautus the lower of two.^(OLD 2012) In Varro it meant later in time, and in Cicero lower in rank and of lower quality, weaker, inferior.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant lower, below.^(Stelten 1995) British Medieval Latin used it for lower in position, and of a district nearer the sea.^(DMLBS) It was borrowed into Italian ''inferiore'' and French ''inférieur'', and gave [[en|inferior]] in the early 15th century, first of low-lying land.^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of the lower of two.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of position.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of rank.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * early 15th century – English ''inferior'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Lower.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Later.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Lower in rank; [[m|en|inferior]].^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[īnfimus]]

+ * [[īnferus]]

+ * [[superior]]

+ * [[en|inferior]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}