inferior

a. [ L., compar. of inferus that is below, underneath, the lower; akin to E. under: cf. F. inférieur. See Under. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Lower in place, rank, value, excellence, etc.; less important or valuable; subordinate; underneath; beneath. [ 1913 Webster ]

A thousand inferior and particular propositions. I. Watts. [ 1913 Webster ]

The body, or, as some love to call it, our inferior nature. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

Whether they are equal or inferior to my other poems, an author is the most improper judge. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Poor or mediocre; as, an inferior quality of goods. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Astron.) (a) Nearer the sun than the earth is; as, the inferior or interior planets; an inferior conjunction of Mercury or Venus. (b) Below the horizon; as, the inferior part of a meridian. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Bot.) (a) 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. (b) On the side of a flower which is next the bract; anterior. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Min.) Junior or subordinate in rank; as, an inferior officer. [ 1913 Webster ]

Inferior court (Law), a court subject to the jurisdiction of another court known as the superior court, or higher court. --
Inferior letter,
Inferior figure (Print.), 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A person lower in station, rank, intellect, etc., than another. [ 1913 Webster ]

A great person gets more by obliging his inferior than by disdaining him. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ Cf. F. infériorité. ] The state of being inferior; a lower state or condition; as, inferiority of rank, of talents, of age, of worth. [ 1913 Webster ]

A deep sense of our own great inferiority. Boyle. [ 1913 Webster ]