INTIMATION

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does intimation mean? 

• INTIMATION (noun)
  The noun INTIMATION has 2 senses:

1. an indirect suggestion

2. a slight suggestion or vague understanding

  Familiarity information: INTIMATION used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• INTIMATION (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

An indirect suggestion

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

breath; hint; intimation

Context example:

not a breath of scandal ever touched her

Hypernyms ("intimation" is a kind of...):

proffer; proposition; suggestion (a proposal offered for acceptance or rejection)

Derivation:

intimate (imply as a possibility)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A slight suggestion or vague understanding

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

glimmer; glimmering; inkling; intimation

Context example:

he had no inkling what was about to happen

Hypernyms ("intimation" is a kind of...):

suggestion (an idea that is suggested)

Derivation:

intimate (give to understand)

intimate (imply as a possibility)

 Context examples 

Hannah entered with the intimation that "a poor lad was come, at that unlikely time, to fetch Mr. Rivers to see his mother, who was drawing away."

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

It was not long after that—not more than two or three days—when he gave me the first intimation of what I tell you.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Mrs. Reynolds respect for Elizabeth seemed to increase on this intimation of her knowing her master.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

The name of “Eleanor” at the same moment, in his loudest tone, resounded through the building, giving to his daughter the first intimation of his presence, and to Catherine terror upon terror.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

It was the first intimation of his being returned from London.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

This was not an agreeable intimation.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

But I felt that my school had reached its zenith when, weeks ago, the Duke of Holdernesse sent Mr. James Wilder, his secretary, with intimation that young Lord Saltire, ten years old, his only son and heir, was about to be committed to my charge.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

She only roused herself from the broodings of this restless agitation, to let Mrs Clay know that she had been seen with Mr Elliot three hours after his being supposed to be out of Bath, for having watched in vain for some intimation of the interview from the lady herself, she determined to mention it, and it seemed to her there was guilt in Mrs Clay's face as she listened.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

It ran thus:— MY DEAR COPPERFIELD, You may possibly not be unprepared to receive the intimation that something has turned up.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

But I didn't call to him for he gave a sudden intimation that he was content to be alone—he stretched out his arms toward the dark water in a curious way, and far as I was from him I could have sworn he was trembling.

(The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald)