What is "illation"

Illation \Il*la"tion\, n. [L. illatio, fr. illatus, used as p. p. of inferre to carry or bring in, but from a different root: cf. F. illation. See 1st In-, and Tolerate, and cf. Infer.] The act or process of inferring from premises or reasons; perception of the connection between ideas; that which is inferred; inference; deduction; conclusion.

Fraudulent deductions or inconsequent illations from a false conception of things.
--Sir T. Browne.

n. The act of inferring or concluding, especially from a set of premises; a conclusion, a deduction.

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 [syn: inference]