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 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.
In*fe"ri*or, n. A person lower in station, rank, intellect, etc., than
another.
A great person gets more by obliging his inferior than by
disdaining him.
South.
In*fe`ri*or"i*ty (?), [Cf. F. infériorité.] The state of being
inferior; a lower state or condition; as, inferiority of rank, of
talents, of age, of worth.
A deep sense of our own great inferiority.
Boyle.
In*fe"ri*or*ly (?), adv. In an inferior manner, or on the inferior
part.
In*fer"nal (?), a. [F. infernal, L. infernalis, fr. infernus that which
lies beneath, the lower. See Inferior.]
1. Of or pertaining to or suitable for the lower regions, inhabited,
according to the ancients, by the dead; pertaining to Pluto's realm of
the dead, the Tartarus of the ancients.
The Elysian fields, the infernal monarchy.
Garth.
2. Of or pertaining to, resembling, or inhabiting, hell; suitable for
hell, or to the character of the inhabitants of hell; hellish;
diabolical; as, infernal spirits, or conduct.
The instruments or abettors in such infernal dealings.
Addison.
Infernal machine, a machine or apparatus maliciously designed to
explode, and destroy life or property. - - Infernal stone (lapis
infernalis), lunar caustic; formerly so called. The name was also
applied to caustic potash.
Syn. -- Tartarean; Stygian; hellish; devilish; diabolical; satanic;
fiendish; malicious.
In*fer"nal, n. An inhabitant of the infernal regions; also, the place
itself. [Obs.] Drayton.
In*fer"nal*ly, adv. In an infernal manner; diabolically. "Infernally
false." Bp. Hacket.
In`fe*ro*bran"chi*an (?), n. (Zoöl.) One of the Inferobranchiata.
In`fe*ro*bran`chi*a"ta (?), n. pl. [NL. See Inferobranchiate.] (Zoöl.)
A suborder of marine gastropod mollusks, in which the gills are between
the foot and the mantle.
In`fe*ro*bran"chi*ate (?), a. [L. inferus lower + E. branchiate.]
(Zoöl.) Having the gills on the sides of the body, under the margin of
the mantle; belonging to the Inferobranchiata.
In*fer"ri*ble (?), a. Inferable.
In*fer"tile (?), a. [L. infertilis: cf. F. infertile. See In- not, and
Fertile.] Not fertile; not productive; barren; sterile; as, an
infertile soil.
In*fer"tile*ly, adv. In an infertile manner.
In`fer*til"i*ty (?), n. [L. infertilitas: cf. F. infertilité.] The
state or quality of being infertile; unproductiveness; barrenness.
The infertility or noxiousness of the soil.
Sir M. Hale.
In*fest" (?), a. [L. infestus. See Infest, v. t.] Mischievous; hurtful;
harassing. [Obs.] Spenser.
In*fest", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Infested; p. pr. & vb. n. Infesting.] [L.
infestare, fr. infestus disturbed, hostile, troublesome; in in, against
+ the root of defendere: cf. F. infester. See Defend.] To trouble
greatly by numbers or by frequency of presence; to disturb; to annoy;
to frequent and molest or harass; as, fleas infest dogs and cats; a sea
infested with pirates.
To poison vermin that infest his plants.
Cowper.
These, said the genius, are envy, avarice, superstition, love, with
the like cares and passions that infest human life.
Addison.
And the cares, that infest the day, Shall fold their tents, like
the Arabs, And as silently steal away.
Longfellow.
In`fes*ta"tion (?), n. [L. infestatio: cf. F. infestation.] The act of
infesting or state of being infested; molestation; vexation; annoyance.
Bacon.
Free from the infestation of enemies.
Donne.
In*fest"er (?), n. One who, or that which, infests.
In*fest"ive (?), a. [L. infestivus. See In- not, and Festive.] Having
no mirth; not festive or merry; dull; cheerless; gloomy; forlorn. [R.]
In`fes*tiv"i*ty (?), n. Want of festivity, cheerfulness, or mirth;
dullness; cheerlessness. [R.]
In*fes"tu*ous (?; 135), a. [L. infestus. See Infest, a.] Mischievous;
harmful; dangerous. [Obs.] "Infestuous as serpents." Bacon.
In`feu*da"tion (?), n. [LL. infeudatio, fr. infeudare to enfeoff: cf.
F. inféodation. See Feud a fief.]
1. (Law) The act of putting one in possession of an estate in fee. Sir
M. Hale.