INFER

understand, infer

(verb) believe to be the case; “I understand you have no previous experience?”

guess, infer

(verb) guess correctly; solve by guessing; “He guessed the right number of beans in the jar and won the prize”

deduce, infer, deduct, derive

(verb) reason by deduction; establish by deduction

deduce, infer

(verb) conclude by reasoning; in logic

generalize, generalise, extrapolate, infer

(verb) draw from specific cases for more general cases

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Verb

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

(transitive) To introduce (something) as a reasoned conclusion; to conclude by reasoning or deduction, as from premises or evidence. [from 16th c.]

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

(obsolete) To cause, inflict (something) upon or to someone. [16th-18th c.]

(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.

Synonyms

• assume, conclude, deduce, educe, construe

Anagrams

• finer, frine

Source: Wiktionary

In*fer", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Inferred; p. pr. & vb. n. Inferring.] Etym: [L. inferre to bring into, bring forward, occasion, infer; pref. in- in + ferre to carry, bring: cf. F. inférer. See 1 st Bear.]

1. To bring on; to induce; to occasion. [Obs.] Harvey.

2. To offer, as violence. [Obs.] Spenser.

3. To bring forward, or employ as an argument; to adduce; to allege; to offer. [Obs.] Full well hath Clifford played the orator, Inferring arguments of mighty force. Shak.

4. To derive by deduction or by induction; to conclude or surmise from facts or premises; to accept or derive, as a consequence, conclusion, or probability; to imply; as, I inferred his determination from his silence. To infer is nothing but by virtue of one proposition laid down as true, to draw in another as true. Locke. Such opportunities always infer obligations. Atterbury.

5. To show; to manifest; to prove. [Obs.] The first part is not the proof of the second, but rather contrariwise, the second inferreth well the first. Sir T. More. This doth infer the zeal I had to see him. Shak.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition