01 a. Lower in place, rank, value, excellence, etc.; less important or valuable; subordinate; underneath; beneath.
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1.
Lower in place, rank, value, 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.
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2.
Poor or mediocre; as, an inferior quality of goods.
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3.
Nearer the sun than the earth is; as, the inferior or interior planets; an inferior conjunction of Mercury or Venus.(Astron.)
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4.
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.(Bot.)
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5.
Junior or subordinate in rank; as, an inferior officer.(Min.)
Phrases & compounds
Inferior court —
a court subject to the jurisdiction of another court known as the superior court, or higher court.
Inferior letter —
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.