inferiority
/ˌɪnfɪɹiˈɔːɹɪˌti/in-fih-ree-AW-rih-tee
/ˌɪnfɪɹiˈɔɹɪˌti/in-fih-ree-AW-rih-tee
Meaningthe state or quality of being lower
Common meaning: the quality of being inferior
- inferlower, belowLewis & Short, Latin Dictionary (1879), p. 944 · scan
- iorcomparative ending: more
- itynoun ending: being so, the quality of
Journey through time
- Latinīnferus, -a, -um‘lower, below’
- Old Frenchinferieursource
- Englishinferior‘lower in rank or quality’
- Englishformed in English from inferiorinferiority‘the quality of being inferior’ · today
Sources & notes
Inferred source: no dictionary we use has an entry for this exact word. Its history is worked out from closely related, listed words in the same family, and we are trusting that link, so bear that in mind. Inferred meaning: the state or quality of being lower. It can be inferred from any of: inferior.
Meaning: “Meaning” is the sense that emerges from the word’s roots; “Common meaning” is today’s everyday sense. Both written by us.
Pronunciation
- UK IPA: converted from the US form by rule (unchecked). Respelling: generated.
- No UK recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-GB voice.
- US IPA: CMUdict (BSD-2), converted to IPA by rule. Respelling: generated.
- No US recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-US voice.
Origin: Formed in English from inferior + -ity (inferred: this exact word is not listed in our dictionaries).
Roots
- īnferus, -a, -um Latin “lower, below”
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