Where does “infer” come from?
infer (Middle English) comes from Old English infær, from Proto-Germanic farą, from Proto-Indo-European per-, from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós — passed , crossed.
infer (Middle English): entrance
Ancestry of “infer”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Old English | infær | ingress, entrance, ingang |
| 2 | Proto-Germanic | farą | a means of passing, ford, ferry |
| 3 | Proto-Indo-European | per- | before, in front; first; to go through |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | pr̥tós | passed , crossed |
Words derived from “infer”