inference

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: in=fer=ence

CIDE DICTIONARY

inference, n. [From Infer.].

•  The act or process of inferring by deduction or induction.  [1913 Webster]

  "Though it may chance to be right in the conclusions, it is yet unjust and mistaken in the method of inference."  [1913 Webster]
•  That which inferred; a truth or proposition drawn from another which is admitted or supposed to be true; a conclusion; a deduction.  Milton.  [1913 Webster]

  "These inferences, or conclusions, are the effects of reasoning, and the three propositions, taken all together, are called syllogism, or argument."

Syn. -- Conclusion; deduction; consequence.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

inference, n.
1 the act or an instance of inferring.
2 Logic a the forming of a conclusion from premisses. b a thing inferred.

Derivative

inferential adj. inferentially adv.

Etymology

med.L inferentia (as INFER)

THESAURUS

inference

Baconian method, a fortiori reasoning, a posteriori reasoning, a priori reasoning, allegory, allusion, analysis, arcane meaning, assumption, axiom, coloration, conclusion, conjecture, connotation, consequence, consequent, corollary, deduction, deductive reasoning, derivation, epagoge, generalization, guess, guessing, guesswork, hint, hypothesis, hypothesis and verification, illation, implication, implied meaning, import, induction, inductive reasoning, innuendo, intimation, ironic suggestion, judgment, meaning, metaphorical sense, nuance, occult meaning, overtone, particularization, philosophical induction, postulate, postulation, postulatum, premise, presumption, presupposal, presupposition, proposition, ratiocination, reckoning, sequitur, set of postulates, subsense, subsidiary sense, suggestion, supposal, supposing, supposition, surmise, syllogism, syllogistic reasoning, symbolism, synthesis, thesis, tinge, touch, undercurrent, undermeaning, understanding, undertone, working hypothesis

ROGET THESAURUS

inference

Reasoning,

N reasoning ratiocination rationalism, dialectics, induction, generalization, discussion, comment, ventilation, inquiry, argumentation, controversy, debate, polemics, wrangling, contention, logomachy, disputation, disceptation, paper war, art of reasoning, logic, process of reasoning, train of reasoning, chain of reasoning, deduction, induction, abduction, synthesis, analysis, argument, case, plaidoyer, opening, lemma, proposition, terms, premises, postulate, data, starting point, principle, inference, prosyllogism, syllogism, enthymeme, sorites, dilemma, perilepsis, a priori reasoning, reductio ad absurdum, horns of a dilemma, argumentum ad hominem, comprehensive argument, empirema, epagoge, reasoner, logician, dialectician, disputant, controversialist, controvertist, wrangler, arguer, debater polemic, casuist, rationalist, scientist, eristic, logical sequence, good case, correct just reasoning, sound reasoning, valid reasoning, cogent reasoning, logical reasoning, forcible reasoning, persuasive reasoning, persuasory reasoning, consectary reasoning, conclusive, subtle reasoning, force of argument, strong point, strong argument, persuasive argument, arguments, reasons, pros and cons, reasoning, rationalistic, argumentative, controversial, dialectic, polemical, discursory, discursive, disputatious, Aristotelian, eristic, eristical, debatable, controvertible, logical, relevant, for, because, hence, whence, seeing that, since, sith, then thence so, for that reason, for this reason, for which reason, for as, inasmuch as, whereas, ex concesso, considering, in consideration of, therefore, wherefore, consequently, ergo, thus, accordingly, a fortiori, in conclusion, in fine, finally, after all, au bout du compt, on the whole, taking one thing with another, ab actu ad posse valet consecutio, per troppo dibatter la verita si perde, troppo disputare la verita fa errare.

Judgment

N judgment, result, conclusion, upshot, deduction, inference, ergotism, illation, corollary, porism, moral, estimation, valuation, appreciation, judication, dijudication, adjudication, arbitrament, arbitrement, arbitration, assessment, ponderation, valorization, award, estimate, review, criticism, critique, notice, report, decision, determination, judgment, finding, verdict, sentence, decree, findings of fact, findings of law, res judicata, plebiscite, voice, casting vote, vote, opinion, good judgment, judge, umpire, arbiter, arbitrator, asessor, referee, censor, reviewer, critic, connoisseur, commentator, inspector, inspecting officer, twenty-twenty hindsight, armchair general, monday morning quarterback, judging, judicious, determinate, conclusive, on the whole, all things considered, a Daniel come to judgment, and stand a critic, hated yet caress'd, it is much easier to be critical than to be correc, la critique est aisee et l'art est difficile, nothing if not critical, O most lame and impotent conclusion.

Interpretation

N interpretation, definition, explanation, explication, solution, answer, rationale, plain interpretation, simple interpretation, strict interpretation, meaning, translation, rendering, rendition, redition, literal translation, free translation, key, secret, clew, clavis, crib, pony, trot, exegesis, expounding, exposition, hermeneutics, comment, commentary, inference, illustration, exemplification, gloss, annotation, scholium, note, elucidation, dilucidation, eclaircissement, mot d'enigme, symptomatology, semiology, semeiology, semiotics, metoposcopy, physiognomy, paleography, oneirology acception, acceptation, acceptance, light, reading, lection, construction, version, equivalent, equivalent meaning, synonym, paraphrase, metaphrase, convertible terms, apposition, dictionary, polyglot, explanatory, expository, explicative, explicatory, exegetical, construable, polyglot, literal, paraphrastic, metaphrastic, consignificative, synonymous, equivalent, in explanation, that is to say, id est, videlicet, to wit, namely, in other words, literally, strictly speaking, in plain, in plainer terms, in plainer words, in plainer English, more simply.