Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “intimation” come from?

Intimation comes from Middle French intimation, from Latin intimatio (a making known), derived from Latin intimus (innermost, inmost), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European en and wel-.

intimation (English): The act of intimating; The thing intimated;...

Definitions

  1. The act of intimating; The thing intimated;...

Ancestry of “intimation”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Frenchintimation—
2Latinintimatiodemonstration, exposition; accusation
3Latin-tiō—
4Latindissertātiō—
5Latindissertusarranged, disposed; explained
6Latindissereresecond-person singular future passive indicative...
7Latindis-asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;...
8Latincalceusshoe
9Latincalxlimestone; chalk; the finish line
10Ancient Greekχάλιξsmall stone, pebble; gravel, rubble

Words derived from “intimation”

  • preintimation
Every word from Ancient Greek χάλιξ →