intimation

American  

[in-tuh-mey-shuhn] / ˌɪn təˈmeɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the act of intimating, or making known indirectly.

2. a hint; suggestion.

   The death of his father was his first intimation of mortality.

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intimation British  

/ ˌɪntɪˈmeɪʃən /

noun

1. a hint or suggestion

2. rare an announcement or notice

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Etymology

Origin of intimation

First recorded in 1425–75; from French, from Late Latin intimātiōn-, stem of intimātiō, equivalent to intimāt(us), past participle of intimāre “to announce, make known” + -iō -ion ( def. ); see intimate ² ( def. )

Explanation

The noun intimation means a hint or an indirect suggestion. Your teacher's intimation that there could be a quiz the next day might send you into a panic, while your friend sitting beside you might not even notice. Intimation comes from the Latin word intimationem, which means an announcement. In English, intimation refers to a less direct form of communication. It's a suggestion or hint, rather than a blatant statement of fact. Your first intimation that your brother had a girlfriend was the amount of time he spent whispering into the phone. The second intimation was when he asked your parents for money for two movie tickets.

Example Sentences

He had not then the least Intimation of my Intention to set up there or any where.

From Benjamin Franklin Representative selections, with introduction, bibliograpy, and notes by Jorgenson, Chester E.

Intimation is given to all the tenants of the sale; and a man who is very deeply in debt is 'so far forced to bring his cattle and sell them.'

From Second Shetland Truck System Report by Guthrie, William

Intimation of new possibilities of experimental research guided by the new conception of the spectrum.

From Man or Matter by Lehrs, Ernst

Sher Ali Decides Against England Intimation of the Viceroy's intentions reached Kabul on the 17th August, the day on which the Amir's favourite son, Abdulla Jan, died.

From Forty-one years in India From Subaltern To Commander-In-Chief by Roberts, Frederick Sleigh

Intimation of the intended festival had publicly been made in all the churches and religious houses in the neighbourhood.

From The Last Look A Tale of the Spanish Inquisition by Kingston, William Henry Giles