In"ti*mate (?), a. [Formerly
intime, L. intimus, a superl. corresponding to the
compar. interior: cf. F. intime. The form
intimate is due to confusion with intimate, v. t. See
Interior.]
1. Innermost; inward; internal; deep-seated;
hearty. "I knew from intimate impulse."
Milton.
2. Near; close; direct; thorough;
complete.
He was honored with an intimate and immediate
admission.
South.
3. Close in friendship or acquaintance;
familiar; confidential; as, an intimate friend.
Syn. -- Familiar; near; friendly; confidential.
In"ti*mate (?), v. t. [imp. &
p. p. Intimated (?); p. pr. & vb.
n. Intimating.] [L. intimatus, p. p. of
intimare to put, bring, drive, or press into, to announce,
make known, from intimus the inmost. See Intimate,
a.]
1. To announce; to declare; to publish; to
communicate; to make known. [Obs.]
He, incontinent, did proclaim and intimate open
war.
E. Hall.
So both conspiring 'gan to intimate
Each other's grief.
Spenser.
2. To suggest obscurely or indirectly; to
refer to remotely; to give slight notice of; to hint; as, he
intimated his intention of resigning his office.
The names of simple ideas and substances, with the
abstract ideas in the mind, intimate some real existence, from
which was derived their original pattern.
Locke.In"ti*mate, n. An intimate friend
or associate; a confidant. Gov. of the Tongue.