different between infer vs abduce

English

Etymology

From Latin infer?, from Latin in- (“in, at, on; into”) + Latin fer? (“bear, carry; suffer”) (cognate to Old English beran, whence English bear), from Proto-Italic *fer?, from Proto-Indo-European *b?éreti (“to bear, carry”), from the root *b?er-. Literally “carry forward”, equivalent to “bear in”, as in concluding from a premise.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /?n?f?/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?n?f??/
• Rhymes: -??(?)

Verb

infer (third-person singular simple present infers, present participle inferring, simple past and past participle inferred)

1. (transitive) To introduce (something) as a reasoned conclusion; to conclude by reasoning or deduction, as from premises or evidence. [from 16th c.]
   • 2010, "Keep calm, but don't carry on", The Economist, 7 Oct 2010:

     It is dangerous to infer too much from martial bluster in British politics: at the first hint of trouble, channelling Churchill is a default tactic for beleaguered leaders of all sorts.

2. (transitive) To lead to (something) as a consequence; to imply. (Now often considered incorrect, especially with a person as subject.) [from 16th c.]
   • a. 1535, Thomas More, letter to Fryth

     the fyrste parte is not the proofe of the second. but rather contrarywyse the seconde inferreth well y? fyrst.

3. (obsolete) To cause, inflict (something) upon or to someone. [16th-18th c.]
   • 1596, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, VI.8:

     faire Serena […] fled fast away, afeard / Of villany to be to her inferd […].

4. (obsolete) To introduce (a subject) in speaking, writing etc.; to bring in. [16th–18th c.]

Usage notes

There are two ways in which the word "infer" is sometimes used as if it meant "imply". "Implication" is done by a person when making a "statement", whereas "inference" is done to a proposition after it had already been made or assumed. Secondly, the word "infer" can sometimes be used to mean "allude" or "express" in a suggestive manner rather than as a direct "statement". Using the word "infer" in this sense is now generally considered incorrect. [1] [2]

Synonyms

• assume, conclude, deduce, educe, construe

Related terms

• inferable
• inference
• illative
• illation
• -ferous (-iferous)

Translations

Anagrams

• -frine, Finer, finer, frine

Latin

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /?in.fer/, [???f?r]
• (Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /?in.fer/, [?inf?r]

Verb

?nfer

1. second-person singular present active imperative of ?nfer?

References

• infer in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• infer in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire illustré Latin-Français, Hachette

English

Etymology

(1530's) From Latin abd?c? (“lead away”), formed from ab (“from, away from”) + d?c? (“lead”).

• See duke, and compare abduct.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?b.?dju?s/, (colloquial) /?b.?d?u?s/
• (US) IPA^(key): /æb.?dus/, /æb.?djus/, /?b.?dus/, /?b.?djus/
• Rhymes: -u?s

Verb

abduce (third-person singular simple present abduces, present participle abducing, simple past and past participle abduced)

1. (transitive, obsolete) To draw; to conduct away; to take away; to withdraw; to draw to a different part; to move a limb out away from the center of the body;abduct. [Mid 16^th century.]

   • If we abduce the eye unto either corner, the object will not duplicate. - Sir T. Browne

2. (transitive) To draw a conclusion, especially in metanalysis; to deduce. [Mid 20^th century.]

Related terms

• abduct
• abduction
• abductive

Translations

References

Italian

Verb

abduce

1. third-person singular present indicative of abdurre

Latin

Verb

abd?ce

1. second-person singular present active imperative of abd?c?

Spanish

Verb

abduce

1. Informal second-person singular (tú) affirmative imperative form of abducir.
2. Formal second-person singular (usted) present indicative form of abducir.
3. Third-person singular (él, ella, also used with usted^?) present indicative form of abducir.