infer

The story

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*bʰéreti“to bear, carry”
2. Proto-Italic · derived from*ferō
3. Latin · derived fromferō“bear, carry; suffer”
4. Latin · derived fromin-“in, at, on; into”
5. Latin · borrowed frominferō
6. English todayinfer

From Latin inferō, from Latin in- (“in, at, on; into”) + Latin ferō (“bear, carry; suffer”) (cognate to Old English beran, whence English bear), from Proto-Italic *ferō, from Proto-Indo-European *bʰéreti (“to bear, carry”), from the root *bʰer-. Literally “carry forward”, equivalent to “bear in”, as in concluding from a premise. Doublet of inbear.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from 16th c. To introduce (something) as a reasoned conclusion; to conclude by reasoning or deduction, as from premises or evidence.
• from 16th c. To lead to (something) as a consequence; to imply.
• 16th–18th c. To cause, inflict (something) upon or to someone.
• 16th–18th c. To introduce (a subject) in speaking, writing etc.; to bring in, to adduce.