intimation
noun/ˌɪntəˈmeɪʃən/
Etymology From Middle French intimation, from Latin intimatio. By surface analysis, intimate + -ion.
1
A hint; an indirect suggestion.
- Without mentioning the king of England, or giving the least intimation that he was sent by him.1679, Gilbert Burnet, The History of the Reformation of the Church of England:
- At length, perchance, the immaterial heaven will appear as much higher to the American mind, and the intimations that star it as much brighter.1862, Henry David Thoreau, Walking:
1 more example
- And actually I had important intimations to communicate as he faced the end. But intimations weren't much use.1976 September, Saul Bellow, Humboldt’s Gift, New York, N.Y.: Avon Books, →ISBN, page 378:
2
The act of intimating.
3
Announcement; declaration.
- They made an edict with an intimation that whosoever killed a stork, should be banished.1603, Plutarch, translated by Philemon Holland, The Philosophie, Commonlie Called, The Morals […], London: […] Arnold Hatfield, →OCLC:
4
The thing intimated.
- Derived terms
- preintimation