Insinuate

Insinuate
Insinuate In*sin"u*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Insinuated}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Insinuating}.] [L. insinuatus, p. p. of insinuareto insinuate; pref. in- in + sinus the bosom. See {Sinuous}.] [1913 Webster] 1. To introduce gently or slowly, as by a winding or narrow passage, or a gentle, persistent movement. [1913 Webster]

The water easily insinuates itself into, and placidly distends, the vessels of vegetables. --Woodward. [1913 Webster]

2. To introduce artfully; to infuse gently; to instill. [1913 Webster]

All the art of rhetoric, besides order and clearness, are for nothing else but to insinuate wrong ideas, move the passions, and thereby mislead the judgment. --Locke. [1913 Webster]

Horace laughs to shame all follies and insinuates virtue, rather by familiar examples than by the severity of precepts. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

3. To hint; to suggest by remote allusion; -- often used derogatorily; as, did you mean to insinuate anything? [1913 Webster]

4. To push or work (one's self), as into favor; to introduce by slow, gentle, or artful means; to ingratiate; -- used reflexively. [1913 Webster]

He insinuated himself into the very good grace of the Duke of Buckingham. --Clarendon.

Syn: To instill; hint; suggest; intimate. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Synonyms:
/ , / (artfully), , / , , , (something unfavorable or discreditable)


Look at other dictionaries:

  • Insinuate — In*sin u*ate, v. i. 1. To creep, wind, or flow in; to enter gently, slowly, or imperceptibly, as into crevices. [1913 Webster] 2. To ingratiate one s self; to obtain access or favor by flattery or cunning. [1913 Webster] He would insinuate with… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • insinuate — [in sin′yo͞o āt΄] vt. insinuated, insinuating [< L insinuatus, pp. of insinuare, to introduce by windings and turnings, insinuate < in , in + sinus, curved surface] 1. to introduce or work into gradually, indirectly, and artfully [to… …   English World dictionary

  • insinuate — [v1] hint, suggest allude, ascribe, connote, imply, impute, indicate, intimate, mention, propose, purport, refer, signify; concepts 49,75 Ant. conceal, hide, withhold insinuate [v2] force one’s way into curry favor*, edge in, fill in, foist, get… …   New thesaurus

  • insinuate — ► VERB 1) suggest or hint (something bad) in an indirect and unpleasant way. 2) (insinuate oneself into) manoeuvre oneself gradually into (a favourable position). DERIVATIVES insinuating adjective insinuator noun. ORIGIN originally in the sense… …   English terms dictionary

  • insinuate — index allude, connote, hint, imply, impose (intrude), incriminate, indicate, infer …   Law dictionary

  • insinuate — (v.) 1520s, from L. insinuatus, pp. of insinuare to throw in, push in, make a way; creep in, intrude, bring in by windings and curvings, wind one s way into, from in in (see IN (Cf. in ) (2)) + sinuare to wind, bend, curve, from sinus a curve,… …   Etymology dictionary

  • insinuate — 1 introduce, insert, interject, interpolate, intercalate, interpose Analogous words: infuse, inoculate, imbue, leaven: instill, inculcate, *implant 2 intimate, hint, *suggest, imply Analogous words: allude, advert, *refer: impute, *ascribe …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • insinuate — v. 1) (d; refl.) ( to ingratiate ) to insinuate into (to insinuate oneself into smb. s good graces) 2) (L; to) ( to suggest ) she insinuated (to us) that her partner had embezzled funds * * * [ɪn sɪnjʊeɪt] (L; to) ( to suggest ) she insinuate (to …   Combinatory dictionary

  • insinuate — UK [ɪnˈsɪnjueɪt] / US [ɪnˈsɪnjuˌeɪt] verb [transitive] Word forms insinuate : present tense I/you/we/they insinuate he/she/it insinuates present participle insinuating past tense insinuated past participle insinuated to say something unpleasant… …   English dictionary

  • insinuate — in|sin|u|ate [ınˈsınjueıt] v [T] [Date: 1500 1600; : Latin; Origin: , past participle of insinuare, from sinuare to bend, curve ] 1.) to say something which seems to mean something unpleasant without saying it openly, especially suggesting that… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

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