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.]
1. Lower in place, rank, excellence, etc.; less important or
valuable; subordinate; underneath; beneath.
A thousand inferior and particular propositions.
--I. Watts.
The body, or, as some love to call it, our inferior
nature. --Burke.
Whether they are equal or inferior to my other
poems, an author is the most improper judge.
--Dryden.
2. Poor or mediocre; as, an inferior quality of goods.
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.
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.
5. (Min.) Junior or subordinate in rank; as, an inferior
officer.
Inferior court (Law), a court subject to the jurisdiction
of another court known as the superior, 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 A_2, B_n, 2 and n
are inferior characters.
Inferior tide, the tide corresponding to the moon's transit
of the meridian, when below the horizon.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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