insinuate

(in-sin’i-at), v.; pret. and pp. insin- uated, ppr. insinuating. [ It. insinuare = Sp. Pg. insinuar = Pr. insinuar, ensinuar = F. insinuer), bring in by windings or turnings, wind or creep in, steal in, ¢ in, in, + sinus, a winding, bend, bay, insinuator fold, bosom: see sinus, sine.] I, trans, 1. To bring in tortuously or indirectly; introduce by devious means or by imperceptible degrees; worm in. There is no particular evil which hath not some appearance of goodne whereby to insinuate itself. Hooker, Eccles. Polity, i. 7. He insinuated himself into the very good grace of the Duke of Bucking ham. Clarendon, Great Rebellion. 2. To hint obliquely; suggest indirectly, or by remote allusion. Wilt thou insinuate what I am, and praise me, And say I am a noble fellow? B. Jonson, Alchemist, ii, 1. Elohim; which word, as is sayd, is of the plural number, insinuating the Holy Trinity. Purchas, Pilgrimage, p. 6. You would seem to insinuate, Madam, that I have particular reasons. Goldsmith, Good-natured Man, i. “ 2. Intimate, Suggest, etc. See hintl,v.t. I, in trans. 1. To move tortuously; wind. [Rare.] Close the serpent sly, Insinuating, wove with Gordian twine His braided train. Milton, P. L., iv. 348. 2. To creep or flow softly in; enter imperceptibly or stealthily. [Rare.] Pestilential miasmas insinuate into the humours and consistent parts of the body. Harvey. 83+. To gain on the affections or confidence by cautious or artful means; ingratiate one’s self. He would insinuate with thee, but to make thee sigh. Shak., Rich. III, i, 4, 152. I, to insinuate with my young master,... have got me afore in this disguise. B, Jonson, Every Man in his Humour, ii. 2. 4, To make hints or indirect suggestions.