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



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Word of the Day

23 November 2024

THEORETICAL

(adjective) concerned primarily with theories or hypotheses rather than practical considerations; “theoretical science”


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Coffee Trivia

According to Guinness World Records, the largest coffee press is 230 cm (7 ft 6 in) in height and 72 cm (2 ft 4 in) in diameter and was created by Salzillo Tea and Coffee (Spain) in Murcia, Spain, in February 2007. The cafetière consists of a stainless steel container, a filtering piston, and a superior lid.

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