deduce

Verb

deduce (third-person singular simple present deduces, present participle deducing, simple past and past participle deduced)

1. (transitive) To reach (a conclusion) by applying rules of logic or other forms of reasoning to given premises or known facts.
   • [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...1593 September 11, [Robert Persons?], “The Second Parte of This Letter Conteyning Certaine Considerations of State vppon the Former Relation”, in [Henry Walpole], transl., Nevves from Spayne and...
   • [T]hoſe principles or firſt poſitions, have no diſcordance with that reaſon, which draweth downe and diduceth the inferiour poſitions.1605, Francis Bacon, “The Second Booke”, in The Twoo Bookes of Francis Bacon. Of the Proficience and Aduancement of Learning, Diuine and Humane, London: […] [Thomas Purfoot and Thomas Creede] for...

   Synonyms:

   conclude, infer

   Antonyms:

   induce

2. (transitive, uncommon) To examine, explain, or record (something) in an orderly manner.
   • 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.— […]1625 (first performance), Ben[jamin] Jonson, The Staple of Newes. […], London: […] I[ohn] B[eale] for Robert Allot […], published 1631, →OCLC, Act II, scene ii, page 23
   • 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.1635 June 14 (Gregorian calendar), James Howell, “XXIX. To the Right Honourable Sir Peter Wichts, Lord Ambassador at Constantinople.”, in Epistolæ Ho-Elianæ. Familiar Letters Domestic and Forren....
3. (archaic, transitive) To obtain (something) from some source; to derive.
   • 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?c. 1699 – 1703, Alexander Pope, “The First Book of Statius His Thebais”, in The Works of Mr. Alexander Pope, volume I, London: […] W[illiam] Bowyer, for Bernard Lintot, […], published 1717, →OCLC...
   • 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.1821 July, A. Heraud [John Abraham Heraud?], “Apostrophe to the New River”, in Sylvanus Urban [pseudonym], editor, The Gentleman’s Magazine: And Historical Chronicle, volume XCI, part 2 (New Series...
4. (archaic, intransitive) To be derived or obtained from some source.
   • [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...1766, William Blackstone, “Of Title by Purchase, and First by Escheat”, in Commentaries on the Laws of England, book II (Of the Rights of Things), Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] Clarendon Press, →OCLC...
5. (obsolete, transitive) To take away (something); to deduct, to subtract (something).
   • to deduce a part from the whole
   • 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—.1632 (first performance), Benjamin Jonson [i.e., Ben Jonson], “The Magnetick Lady: Or, Humors Reconcil’d. A Comedy […]”, in The Workes of Benjamin Jonson. The Second Volume. […] (Second Folio)...
6. (obsolete, transitive) To lead (something) forth.
   • 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: […]1612, [John Selden], “The Third Song. Illustrations.”, in Michael Drayton, edited by [John Selden], Poly-Olbion. Or A Chorographicall Description of Tracts, Riuers, Mountaines, Forests, and Other...