what does the root infer mean in the word inferior
after the change in management, the store began to offer inferior products
What does the root infer mean in the word inferior?
Answer: The root “infer” in the word “inferior” comes from the Latin root word “inferus,” which means “low” or “below.” When you add the suffix “-ior,” which is commonly used to form comparative adjectives, “inferior” means “lower in quality or value.”
In the context of your sentence, “after the change in management, the store began to offer inferior products,” the word “inferior” is describing the products as being of lower quality compared to what was offered before the change in management.
Breaking Down the Components:
- InferUs: Latin root meaning “low” or “below.”
- -ior: A suffix used to form comparative adjectives indicating “more so,” hence making “inferior” mean “more low.”
To infer the meaning from usage:
- Original Quality: The products offered by the store before the change in management were presumably of higher quality.
- Comparative Statement: With the change in management, the quality of the products dropped, making them of “lower” quality, hence “inferior.”
Summary:
The root “infer” in “inferior” implies a condition of being lower in quality, rank, or status, aligning well with the statement that the quality of products declined after a change in management. This comparative form of describing the products underscores that the items now offered are less desirable or of poorer quality than those available before.