Intimate
— to hint or suggest; closely acquainted
Intimate functions as both an adjective and a verb with distinct but related meanings. As an adjective, it describes something deeply personal, private, or closely connected — an intimate friendship, an intimate conversation, or intimate knowledge of a subject.
As a verb (pronounced /ˈɪntɪmeɪt/), intimate means to hint at or suggest something indirectly, without stating it outright. When someone intimates their displeasure, they communicate it through subtle cues rather than direct words. Both senses share a thread of closeness and subtlety.
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Memory Mnemonic
IN TIME ATE
The keyword IN TIME ATE comes from how Intimate sounds when spoken aloud. This pronunciation connection makes it easy to recall the keyword whenever you hear or see the word.
Memory Link
IN TIME, as they ATE dinner together, he hinted at his feelings—they were closely acquainted!
Picture two people who, IN TIME, as they ATE dinner together over many evenings, grew closely acquainted — and one night, instead of saying it outright, he gently hinted at his feelings through subtle glances and carefully chosen words. IN TIME ATE gives you the keyword, while the scene of a close dinner where feelings are hinted at rather than declared captures both meanings of intimate. Visualise the candlelit table, the quiet conversation, and the unspoken suggestion hanging in the air.
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Usage Examples
- She intimated during the meeting that budget cuts were on the horizon, though she never said it directly.
- They shared an intimate dinner at a quiet restaurant, away from the noise of the city.
- The ambassador intimated that diplomatic relations might soon be restored.
- His intimate knowledge of the company made him invaluable during the transition.
- Without naming anyone, the professor intimated that some students had not been submitting original work.
Etymology of Intimate
From Latin intimare, meaning "to make known" or "to announce," derived from intimus, meaning "innermost" or "deepest." The adjective sense of closeness and the verb sense of hinting both trace back to the idea of something deeply internal being brought to the surface.
Synonyms & Antonyms of Intimate
Synonyms
Antonyms
Common Collocations with Intimate
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