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Where does the word "insinuate" come from? It comes from Latin insinuare, and was adopted directly into English (1520s).
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Where does the word "insinuate" come from? It comes from Latin insinuare, and was adopted directly into English (1520s).
Insinuate’s story begins in Latin: insinuare meant “to wind one's way in.” 'in-' plus 'sinus', curve. It reached English by 1520s as insinuate. The sense 'hint slyly' dates from the 1500s too. Today, insinuate means to suggest in an indirect way.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient insinuare "to wind one's way in", 'in-' plus 'sinus', curve.
- Stage 2 · English · 1520s insinuate "to introduce by winding", the sense 'hint slyly' dates from the 1500s too.