From Latin inferō, from Latin in- + Latin ferō (cognate to Old English beran, whence English bear), from itc-pro *ferō, from Proto-Indo-European *bʰéreti, from the root *bʰer-.

• (RP, Australia) IPA: /ɪnˈfɜː/
• (America, Canada) IPA: /ɪnˈfɝ/

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.]

   Synonyms: conclude, deduce, educe, construe

2. (transitive, often, proscribed) To lead to (something) as a consequence; to imply. [from 16th c.]

   Synonyms: imply, suggest, entail

   • a. 1535, Thomas More, letter to Fryth

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

   • c. 1596–1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Fourth, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC ↗, [Act V, scene v]:

     This doth infer the zeal I had to see him.

   • 1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 3, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book II, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC ↗:

     These and a thousand like propositions, which concurre in this purpose, do evidently inferre [translating sonnent] some thing beyond patient expecting of death it selfe to be suffered in this life […].

3. (obsolete) To cause, inflict (something) upon or to someone. [16th]
   • 1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book VI, Canto VIII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC ↗:

     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, to adduce. [16th–18th c.]
   • c. 1591–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Third Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC ↗, [Act II, scene ii]:

     Full well hath Clifford played the orator, / Inferring arguments of mighty force.

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

• French: déduire, inférer
• German: schlussfolgern, folgern, schließen, Schlüsse ziehen
• Italian: inferire, dedurre, concludere, infliggere
• Portuguese: inferir
• Russian: заключить
• Spanish: inferir

• German: zur Folge haben
• Italian: implicare
• Russian: предполагать
• Spanish: inferir