† inˈferial, a. Obs.
[cf. OF. inferial low-lying, in low position (applied to hell), prob. repr. a med.L. *inferiālis, f. L. inferus low, or inferius adv. lower. (L. had inferiālis funeral, f. inferiæ sacrifices in honour of the dead, f. inferī those of the infernal regions, the dead; whence sense 2.)]
1. Low in position, low-lying; situated below, lower, nether; = inferior A. 1; spec. belonging to this lower world, mundane, sublunary.
| 1432–50 tr. Higden (Rolls) I. 151 After that is Cilicia..The nowbleste cite off theyme alle was Tharsis, more inferialle towarde the see. 1509 Hawes Past. Pleas. xxii. (1845) 104 And the second day..The waters above he did devide aryght, From the erthely waters which are inferiall. 1519 Four Elements in Hazl. Dodsley I. 9 Men..Disputing of high creatures celestial..And know not these visible things inferial. 1542 Boorde Dyetary x. (1870) 253 Strayne the vpper parte..and cast the inferyall parte awaye. |
b. Of planets: = inferior A. 5 a.
| a 1545 Boorde Pronost. Prol. in Introd. Knowl. (1870) Forewords 25 The son..illumynatynge as wel the inferyal planetes as y⊇ superyal planetes. |
2. (See quot.) rare—0.
| 1656 Blount Glossogr., Inferial, belonging to Funeral Obsequies. 1658 in Phillips. |