illation

n.

1. The act of inferring or drawing conclusions.
2. A conclusion drawn; a deduction. Also called illative.

[Late Latin illātiō, illātiōn-, from Latin illātus, past participle of īnferre, to carry in, infer : in-, in; see in-² + lātus, brought.]

(i-LAY-shuhn)

noun
1. The act of inferring.
2. An inference or conclusion drawn.

Etymology
From Late Latin illation-, from Latin illatus, past participle of inferre (to bring in), from il- + ferre (to carry)

What could today's word have in common with terms such as fertile, transfer, refer, and circumference? They all derive from the same Latin root ferre (to carry).

Usage
"Her political illations are by any standards excessively childish." — Sion Simon; Love's labour lost; The Spectator (London, UK); Dec 4, 1999.

"The same high power of reason, intent in every one to explore and display some truth ... of law, deduced by construction, perhaps, or by illation." — Rufus Choate; Eulogy of Daniel Webster; 1853.

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noun

A position arrived at by reasoning from premises or general principles: conclusion, deduction, illative, inference, judgment. See reason/unreason.

[L.] 1) the act of inferring or drawing conclusions
2) a conclusion drawn; a deduction (also called illative)

IN BRIEF: n. - The reasoning involved in drawing a conclusion or making a logical judgment on the basis of circumstantial evidence and prior conclusions rather than on the basis of direct observation.

Tutor's tip: Hearing the coach's "illation" (an inference, or that which is inferred) about a winning season ahead caused great "elation" (euphoria; exalted feeling) among the players.