A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1490-1596, 1678-1680
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Infer, v. Also: inferr(e. [e.m.E. (1529), L. inferre.]
1. tr. To bring in or upon; to impose, inflict; ellipt. to attack.1533 Boece ii. xi. 80 b.
Nobill wemen … be violent dede inferrit be thare awin handis evadit … vile seruitute 1533 Ib. iv. iii. 128 b.
I tak witnes to the goddis eterne that I inferrit na weris to Romanis 1596 Dalr. II. 382/10.
Tha publiklie preiche to thair peiple the scriptures planlie to infer [L. vim inferre]
2. To bring into discourse or notice; to mention.1560 Rolland Seven Sages 7530.
As to our Quene, quhair scho inferris this taill To hir purpois, … the mater ryndes haill To hir awin schame 1560 Ib. 7575.
How can our Quene sa foull ane fault infer … and scho hir self gyltie In the same cryme 1562-3 Winȝet I. 139/18.
Quharefor to ȝour schame is my propositioun necessarlie inferrit 1567 Gude and Godlie Ballatis 190.
Quha the suith dois infer, preistis say thay erre 1596 Dalr. I. 61/25.
Last of al he inferis, that nocht lang … eftir landet at Leith … a gret and monstruous schip 1596 Ib. II. 91/22.
Mony rasonis he inferis, bot cheifle [etc.]
3. ? To deduce, conclude.1490 Irland Mir. fol. 184 a.
Als weill mycht be inferit the opposite
4. To imply; to involve as a consequence.1678 Justiciary Ct. Rec. II. 321.
A confession taken in the Tolbooth without a fenced court and before one judge was found sufficient to inferr the pain of death 1680 Inverness Rec. II. 284.
The saids James ... his acceptation ... shall inferre no obligation upon him to advance money for the saids work except [etc.]
