Inferior letter

Inferior letter
Inferior In*fe"ri*or, a. [L., compar. of inferus that is below, underneath, the lower; akin to E. under: cf. F. inf['e]rieur. See {Under}.] [1913 Webster] 1. Lower in place, rank, value, excellence, etc.; less important or valuable; subordinate; underneath; beneath. [1913 Webster]

A thousand inferior and particular propositions. --I. Watts. [1913 Webster]

The body, or, as some love to call it, our inferior nature. --Burke. [1913 Webster]

Whether they are equal or inferior to my other poems, an author is the most improper judge. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

2. Poor or mediocre; as, an inferior quality of goods. [1913 Webster]

3. (Astron.) (a) Nearer the sun than the earth is; as, the inferior or interior planets; an inferior conjunction of Mercury or Venus. (b) Below the horizon; as, the inferior part of a meridian. [1913 Webster]

4. (Bot.) (a) Situated below some other organ; -- said of a calyx when free from the ovary, and therefore below it, or of an ovary with an adherent and therefore inferior calyx. (b) On the side of a flower which is next the bract; anterior. [1913 Webster]

5. (Min.) Junior or subordinate in rank; as, an inferior officer. [1913 Webster]

{Inferior court} (Law), a court subject to the jurisdiction of another court known as the {superior court}, or {higher court}.

{Inferior letter}, {Inferior figure} (Print.), a small letter or figure standing at the bottom of the line (opposed to {superior letter} or figure), as in A2, Bn, 2 and n are inferior characters.

{Inferior tide}, the tide corresponding to the moon's transit of the meridian, when below the horizon. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Inferior letter — Подстрочный буквенный индекс …   Краткий толковый словарь по полиграфии

  • Inferior — In*fe ri*or, a. [L., compar. of inferus that is below, underneath, the lower; akin to E. under: cf. F. inf[ e]rieur. See {Under}.] [1913 Webster] 1. Lower in place, rank, value, excellence, etc.; less important or valuable; subordinate;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Inferior court — Inferior In*fe ri*or, a. [L., compar. of inferus that is below, underneath, the lower; akin to E. under: cf. F. inf[ e]rieur. See {Under}.] [1913 Webster] 1. Lower in place, rank, value, excellence, etc.; less important or valuable; subordinate;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Inferior figure — Inferior In*fe ri*or, a. [L., compar. of inferus that is below, underneath, the lower; akin to E. under: cf. F. inf[ e]rieur. See {Under}.] [1913 Webster] 1. Lower in place, rank, value, excellence, etc.; less important or valuable; subordinate;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Inferior tide — Inferior In*fe ri*or, a. [L., compar. of inferus that is below, underneath, the lower; akin to E. under: cf. F. inf[ e]rieur. See {Under}.] [1913 Webster] 1. Lower in place, rank, value, excellence, etc.; less important or valuable; subordinate;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • inferior — /ɪnˈfɪəriə / (say in fearreeuh) adjective 1. (sometimes followed by to) lower in station, rank, or degree. 2. of comparatively low grade; poor in quality: an inferior brand. 3. less important, valuable, or excellent: an inferior worker. 4. lower… …  

  • inferior — adjective 1》 lower in rank, status, or quality.     ↘of low standard or quality.     ↘Law (of a court or tribunal) susceptible to having its decisions overturned by a higher court. 2》 chiefly Anatomy low or lower in position.     ↘Botany (of the… …   English new terms dictionary

  • inferior — adj. & n. adj. 1 (often foll. by to) a lower; in a lower position. b of lower rank, quality, etc. 2 poor in quality. 3 (of a planet) having an orbit within the earth s. 4 Bot. situated below an ovary or calyx. 5 (of figures or letters) written or …   Useful english dictionary

  • inferior — ► ADJECTIVE 1) lower in rank, status, or quality. 2) of low standard or quality. 3) chiefly Anatomy low or lower in position. 4) (of a letter or symbol) written or printed below the line. ► NOUN ▪ a person lower than another in rank, status, or… …   English terms dictionary

  • inferior — inferiority /in fear ee awr i tee, or /, n. inferiorly, adv. /in fear ee euhr/, adj. 1. lower in station, rank, degree, or grade (often fol. by to): a rank inferior to colonel. 2. lower in place or position; closer to the bottom or base:… …   Universalium

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