insinuation

The act, process, or practice of insinuating.

Something insinuated, especially an artfully indirect, often derogatory suggestion.

The act of insinuating; a creeping or winding in; a tortuous or stealthy passage, as into crevices, or (figuratively) into favor or affection.

The art or power of pleasing and stealing into the affections.

That which is insinuated; a suggestion or intimation by indirect allusion; an oblique hint; an innuendo.

In civil law, the lodging of an alleged will with the officer charged with the duty of registering wills, as a step toward procuring its probate, and establishing it as a part of the records.

In rhetoric, a kind of exordium, in which the favor of the judge or hearers is sought to be gained indirectly or by special considerations, in spite of a discreditable client, an unfavorable case, prejudice or weariness on the part of the judge, etc.: distinguished from the exordium or proem in the narrower sense, in which a favorable hearing is claimed or solicited directly and openly.

Synonyms Intimation, Suggestion, etc. See hint, transitive verb

The act or process of insinuating; a creeping, winding, or flowing in.

The act of gaining favor, affection, or influence, by gentle or artful means; — formerly used in a good sense, as of friendly influence or interposition.