Insinuate

4 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  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 thee but to make thee sigh.
                                                    --Shak.
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              To insinuate, flatter, bow, and bend my limbs.
                                                    --Shak.
        [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  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.
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              The water easily insinuates itself into, and
              placidly distends, the vessels of vegetables.
                                                    --Woodward.
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     2. To introduce artfully; to infuse gently; to instill.
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              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.
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              Horace laughs to shame all follies and insinuates
              virtue, rather by familiar examples than by the
              severity of precepts.                 --Dryden.
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     3. To hint; to suggest by remote allusion; -- often used
        derogatorily; as, did you mean to insinuate anything?
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     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]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  insinuate
       v 1: introduce or insert (oneself) in a subtle manner; "He
            insinuated himself into the conversation of the people
            at the nearby table"
       2: give to understand; "I insinuated that I did not like his
          wife" [syn: {intimate}, {adumbrate}]

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

  155 Moby Thesaurus words for "insinuate":
     accuse, adumbrate, allege, allegorize, allude to, arraign, article,
     ascribe, assume, barge in, book, break in, break in upon,
     bring accusation, bring charges, bring to book, bring to mind,
     burst in, butt in, charge, charge in, cite, come between, complain,
     connote, convey, crash, crash in, crash the gates, creep in,
     crowd in, cut in, denounce, denunciate, drag in, drop a hint,
     ease in, edge in, elbow in, encroach, entail, entrench, fasten on,
     fasten upon, fill in, finger, foist, foist in, fudge in,
     give a hint, give the cue, glance at, hang something on, hint,
     hint at, horn in, impeach, impinge, implant in, implicate, imply,
     import, impose, impose on, impose upon, impute, indicate, indict,
     infer, infiltrate, inform against, inform on, infringe, infuse,
     inject, inject in, inoculate, insert, insert in, insinuate in,
     intercalate, interfere, interjaculate, interject, interlope,
     interpolate, interpose, intervene, intimate, introduce,
     introduce in, intromit, intrude, invade, involve, irrupt,
     lay charges, lodge a complaint, lodge a plaint, lug in, mean,
     mean to say, obtrude, perfuse, pin on, point indirectly to, pop in,
     prefer charges, press charges, press in, presume, presuppose,
     prompt, push in, put between, put in, put on, put on report,
     put upon, report, reproach, run in, rush in, sandwich, set in,
     signify, slink in, slip in, smash in, smuggle in, sneak in,
     squeeze in, steal in, stick in, storm in, suggest, suppose,
     take for granted, take to task, task, taunt with, tax, throng in,
     throw in, thrust in, trench, trespass, tuck in, twit, wedge in,
     whip in, whisper, work in, worm, worm in