INSINUATING
ingratiating, insinuating, ingratiatory
(adjective) calculated to please or gain favor; “a smooth ingratiating manner”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Verb
insinuating
present participle of insinuate
Source: Wiktionary
In*sin"u*a`ting, a.
Definition: Winding, creeping, or flowing in, quietly or stealthily;
suggesting; winning favor and confidence insensibly. Milton.
His address was courteous, and even insinuating. Prescott.
INSINUATE
In*sin"u*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Insinuated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Insinuating.] Etym: [L. insinuatus, p. p. of insinuareto insinuate;
pref. in- in + sinus the bosom. See Sinuous.]
1. To introduce gently or slowly, as by a winding or narrow passage,
or a gentle, persistent movement.
The water easily insinuates itself into, and placidly distends, the
vessels of vegetables. Woodward.
2. To introduce artfully; to infuse gently; to instill.
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.
Horace laughs to shame all follies and insinuates virtue, rather by
familiar examples than by the severity of precepts. Dryden.
3. To hint; to suggest by remote allusion; -- often used
derogatorily; as, did you mean to insinuate anything
4. To push or work (one's self), as into favor; to introduce by slow,
gentle, or artful means; to ingratiate; -- used reflexively.
He insinuated himself into the very good grace of the Duke of
Buckingham. Clarendon.
Syn.
– To instill; hint; suggest; intimate.
In*sin"u*ate, v. i.
1. To creep, wind, or flow in; to enter gently, slowly, or
imperceptibly, as into crevices.
2. To ingratiate one's self; to obtain access or favor by flattery or
cunning.
He would insinuate with thee but to make thee sigh. Shak.
To insinuate, flatter, bow, and bend my limbs. Shak.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition