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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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. ); intimate ² ( def. )