IMPLY

imply, connote

(verb) express or state indirectly

imply

(verb) suggest as a logically necessary consequence; in logic

entail, imply, mean

(verb) have as a logical consequence; “The water shortage means that we have to stop taking long showers”

imply, involve

(verb) have as a necessary feature; “This decision involves many changes”

incriminate, imply, inculpate

(verb) suggest that someone is guilty

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Verb

imply (third-person singular simple present implies, present participle implying, simple past and past participle implied)

(transitive, of a proposition) to have as a necessary consequence

(transitive, of a person) to suggest by logical inference

(transitive, of a person or proposition) to hint; to insinuate; to suggest tacitly and avoid a direct statement

(archaic) to enfold, entangle.

Usage notes

• This is a catenative verb that takes the gerund (-ing). See English catenative verbs

Synonyms

• (to have as a necessary consequence): entail

• (to suggest tacitly): allude, hint, insinuate, suggest

Source: Wiktionary

Im*ply", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Implied; p. pr. & vb. n. Implying.] Etym: [From the same source as employ. See Employ, Ply, and cf. Implicate, Apply.]

1. To infold or involve; to wrap up. [Obs.] "His head in curls implied." Chapman.

2. To involve in substance or essence, or by fair inference, or by construction of law, when not include virtually; as, war implies fighting. Where a mulicious act is proved, a mulicious intention is implied. Bp. Sherlock. When a man employs a laborer to work for him, . . . the act of hiring implies an obligation and a promise that he shall pay him a reasonable reward for his services. Blackstone.

3. To refer, ascribe, or attribute. [Obs.] Whence might this distaste arise If [from] neither your perverse and peevish will. To which I most imply it. J. Webster.

Syn.

– To involve; include; comprise; import; mean; denote; signify; betoken. See Involve.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition