deduce — English Dictionary

Verb

1. To reach (a conclusion) by applying rules of logic or other forms of reasoning to given premises or known facts.

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Synonyms

   concludeinfer

   Antonyms

   induce

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   [T]he puritan buyldeth directly vpon the proteſtants firſt groundes in religion, & deduceth therof clearly and by ordinary conſequence al his concluſions, which the proteſtant cannot deny by divinity, but only by pollicy & humane ordination, or by turning to catholique anſwers contrary to ther owne principles: […]

   [T]hoſe principles or firſt poſitions, have no diſcordance with that reaſon, which draweth downe and diduceth the inferiour poſitions.

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   Laſtly, One way more there may be of miſtake, at that not unuſuall among us, grounded upon a double compute of the year; the one beginning from the 25 of March, the other from the day of our birth unto the ſame again, which is the naturall account. Now hereupon many men frequently miſcaſt their daies; for in their age they diduce the account not from the day of their birth, but the year of our Lord, wherein they were born.

   Counsell, is where a man ſaith, Doe, or Doe not this, and deduceth his reaſons from the benefit that arriveth by it to him to whom he ſaith it. And from this it is evident, that he that giveth Counſell, pretendeth onely (whatſoever he intendeth) the good of him, to whom he giveth it.

   From the comparative weight or lightneſs of the Air at different times, he deduceth alſo the riſing and falling of Vapours in it.

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   But how then can thoſe Men think the uſe of Reaſon neceſſary to diſcover Principles that are ſupposed innate, when Reaſon (if we may believe them) is nothing elſe, but the Faculty of deducing unknown Truths from Principles or Propoſitions, that are already known?

   Now Principles, when deduced by Diſcourſe of ſound Reaſon, may, from the Content of Mankind, take the Name and Force of a Law; but the Faculty which deduceth thoſe Principles, cannot with the leaſt Propriety be deemed a Law. This is confounding Cauſes with Effects, and attributing the Property to the Faculty creating, which only belongs to the Subject created.

   I do not know that the relation of my disasters will be useful to you; yet, when I reflect that you are pursuing the same course, exposing yourself to the same dangers which have rendered me what I am, I imagine that you may deduce an apt moral from my tale; one that may direct you if you succeed in your undertaking, and console you in case of failure.

2. To examine, explain, or record (something) in an orderly manner.

   Usage

   • Transitive
   • Uncommon

   Examples

   Pye[d-mantle]. […] Sir, I haue drawne / A Pedigree for her Grace, though yet a Nouice / In that ſo noble ſtudy. […] I haue deduc'd her.— […]

   More examples (4)

   It ſeems there is ſome angry Star that hath hung over this Buſineſs of the Palatinate from the beginning of theſe German Wars to this very Day, which will too evidently appear, if one ſhould mark and deduce Matters from their firſt Riſe.

   Lend me your ſong, ye nightingales! oh pour / The mazy-running ſoul of melody / Into my varied verſe! while I deduce, / From the firſt note the hollow cuckoo ſings, / The ſymphony of Spring, and touch a theme / Unknown to fame, the Paſſion of the groves.

   The general deſign of this work will not permit us minutely to relate the actions of every emperor after he aſcended the throne, much leſs deduce the various fortunes of his private life.

   If you leave this Isle, and got to the court of England, see what regard there will be paid to the old pedigree that deduces your descent from kings and conquerors.

3. To obtain (something) from some source; to derive.

   Usage

   • Archaic
   • Transitive

   Examples

   More examples (3)

   O Goddeſs, ſay, ſhall I deduce my rhimes / From the dire nation in its early times, / Europa’s rape, Agenor’s ſtern decree, / And Cadmus ſearching round the ſpacious ſea?

   The Spring whence thou [Hugh Myddelton] deduced'st the ample stream, / The Poet's and Historian's theme, / Trenching thy mighty aqueduct a way, / 'Till as the humble plains, the aspiring hills obey.

   Do not, my children, O do not accustom yourselves to such warfares, / Nor on your country's vitals thus turn your invincible valor: / Sooner refrain thou, thou who deducest thy race from Olympus!

4. To be derived or obtained from some source.

   Usage

   • Archaic
   • Intransitive

   Examples

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   [B]y the ſtatute 7 Ann. c. 21 […] it is enacted, that, after the death of the pretender, and his ſons, no attainder for treaſon ſhall extend to the diſinheriting any heir, nor the prejudice of any perſon, other than the offender himſelf: which proviſions have indeed carried the remedy farther, than was required by the hardſhip above complained of; which is only the future obſtruction of deſcents, where the pedigree happens to be deduced through the blood of an attainted anceſtor.

5. To take away (something); to deduct, to subtract (something).

   Usage

   • Obsolete
   • Transitive

   Examples

   to deduce a part from the whole

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   Pra[ctise]. […] Well, Sir, the Contract / Is with this Gentleman, ten thouſand pound. […] Int[erest]. And what I have furniſh'd him with all o' the by, / To appeare, or ſo: A matter of foure hundred, / To be deduc'd upo' the payment—.

6. To lead (something) forth.

   Usage

   • Obsolete
   • Transitive
   • based on the word’s Latin etymon

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   Richard of the Vies will that Penda, K[ing] of Mereland, firſt deduced a colony of Cambridge men hither and cals it Crekelade, as other Kirklade with variety of names: […]

Verb

1. reason by deduction; establish by deduction

   Synonyms

   inferdeductderive

   Broader terms

   reasonreason outconclude

2. conclude by reasoning; in logic

   Synonyms

   infer

   Broader terms

   reasonreason outconclude