Jan 06, 2007 01:07
in·fe·ri·or
/ɪnˈfɪəriər/ Pronunciation Key -
Show Spelled Pronunciation[in-feer-ee-er]
-adjective
1. lower in station, rank, degree, or grade (often fol. by to):
2. lower in place or position; closer to the bottom or base:
3. of comparatively low grade; poor in quality; substandard:
4. less important, valuable, or worthy:
5. acting or performing in a way that is comparatively poor or mediocre: an inferior observer of human nature.
-noun
10. a person inferior to another or others, as in rank or merit.
[Origin: 1400-50; late ME < L, equiv. to infer(us) lower (cf. under) + -ior comp. suffix]
-Related forms
in·fe·ri·or·i·ty /ɪnˌfɪəriˈɔrɪti, -ˈɒr-/
Pronunciation[in-feer-ee-awr-i-tee, -or-]
- noun
in·fe·ri·or·ly, adverb
-Synonyms
3. mediocre, low-quality, second-rate.