hint — a slight or indirect indication or suggestion
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: a slight or indirect indication or suggestion
Pronunciation (IPA): /hɪnt/
Example Sentences
- My mom kept hinting that she wanted a new phone by leaving the catalog open on my desk.
- He's terrible at taking hints - I've been hinting about my birthday for weeks!
- The teacher gave us several hints before the exam.
hint
NOUN[/hɪnt/]
a slight or indirect indication or suggestion
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The word 'hint' derives from Middle English 'henten', meaning 'to catch' or 'to seize'. Over time, the sense evolved from the physical act of grasping to the more abstract notion of grasping an idea or suggestion, eventually developing into the meaning of a subtle clue or indirect indication.
Breakdown
henten (to catch, seize) → hint (subtle clue or indirect suggestion). The semantic shift reflects a metaphorical extension from physical grasping to intellectual apprehension.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My mom kept hinting that she wanted a new phone by leaving the catalog open on my desk.”
“He's terrible at taking hints - I've been hinting about my birthday for weeks!”
“The teacher gave us several hints before the exam.”
“There's a hint of garlic in this soup.”
📚Related Words
Antonyms
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