intimation

C2+ Topic:Abstract Ideas

US /ˌɪntəˈmeɪʃən/ UK /ˌɪntɪˈmeɪʃən/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

noun
an indirect suggestion or hint; an announcement

There was an intimation in his letter that he might not return.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · an indirect suggestion or... hint suggestion indication insinuation inkling announcement

Word family

Related forms intimate intimacy

Etymology

From Late Latin intimatio ('an announcement'), from intimare ('to make known, announce'), from intimus ('innermost').

intimatio Latin intimus Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Abstract Ideas Word Formation & Derivatives

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# intimation

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˌɪntəˈmeɪʃən/
**IPA (UK):** /ˌɪntɪˈmeɪʃən/

## Meanings
1. an indirect suggestion or hint; an announcement

## Examples
- There was an intimation in his letter that he might not return.

## Synonyms
- hint
- suggestion
- indication
- insinuation
- inkling
- announcement

## Related Forms
- intimate
- intimacy

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: intimatio
- Root: intimus

## Etymology
From Late Latin intimatio ('an announcement'), from intimare ('to make known, announce'), from intimus ('innermost').

## AI Etymology
intimation comes from Late Latin intimatio ('an announcement'), from intimare ('to make known, announce'), from intimus ('innermost'). The path is chiefly one of transmission: the word passes through the named languages and forms, with each stage preserving part of the modern shape. In present English, the noun sense is "an indirect suggestion or hint; an announcement", so the historical development ends in a clearly identifiable modern dictionary use. The same base also appears in related forms such as intimate and intimacy. Its semantic neighborhood includes hint, suggestion, indication, and insinuation, which helps locate the modern sense without adding a separate etymological claim. The named historical forms include Latin intimatio and Latin intimus.

## Topics
- Abstract Ideas
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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intimation

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