English → Latin
“inferior” in Latin
īnferuslow; the souls of the dead; the netherworld, the underworld, Hellōrdōa methodical series, arrangement, or order; regular line, row, or series; a class, station, condition, rank; a group or auctōritāscredibility, prestige, reputation, importance; influence, weight, personal weight; power, ability, authorityexīstimātiōjudgement, opinion (normally good); reputation, honour, character, creditpaucusfew, littlevirtūsmanhood, manliness, virility; courage, valor, resoluteness, gallantry; virtue, goodness
The English word inferior itself goes back to Latin īnferior.
Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864
inferior
inferior (lower; in rank, number, etc.); in anything, aliqua re (e.g., in rank, influence, reputation, ordine, auctoritate, existimatione): a fleet inferior in numbers, pauciora navigia (Bell. Afr.): inferior in number of ships, inferior navium numero: inferior forces, pauciores (opposed to plures; Sall., Jug., 49, 2): with inferior forces, inferiore militum numero. He was not inferior to his master, non inferior quam magister fuit: inferior to none, haud ulli secundus (†; e.g., virtute, Verg.). Our inferiors, inferiores: *ii, qui inferiores sunt (opposed to superiores; qui superiores sunt): men envy their equals or inferiors, invident homines paribus aut inferioribus; cruel to his inferiors, crudelis in inferiores (Auct. Her., 4, 40).
Quick answer
- What is the Latin word for inferior?
- The usual Latin words for “inferior” are īnferus, ōrdō, auctōritās; also exīstimātiō, paucus, virtūs. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.
Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.