“Hinting” is a form of
hint
/hɪnt/ noun, verb, interjection
Forms hints hinting hinted
- noun A clue. “I needed a hint to complete the crossword.”
- noun An implicit suggestion that avoids a direct statement. “He gave me a hint that my breath smelt.”
- noun A small, barely detectable amount. “There was a hint of irony in his voice.”
- noun (computing) Information in a computer-based font that suggests how the outlines of the font's glyphs should be distorted in order to produce, at specific sizes, a visually appealing pixel-based rendering; an instance of hinting. “This font does not scale well to small sizes; the hints for the 10-point letter 'g' still need work.”
- noun (databases) An instruction to the database engine as to how a query should be executed, for example whether to use an index or not.
- noun (obsolete) An opportunity; occasion; fit time.
- verb (intransitive) To imply without a direct statement; to provide a clue. “She hinted at the possibility of a recount of the votes.”
- verb (transitive) To bring to mind by a slight mention or remote allusion; to suggest in an indirect manner. “to hint a suspicion”
- verb (transitive) To develop and add hints to a font. “The typographer worked all day on hinting her new font so it would look good on computer screens.”
- verb (transitive, nonstandard) To give (a person) a hint; to tip off. “If you find the treasure in the video game, please do not hint other players about it.”
- interjection (often reduplicated) Signifies that something previously said should be taken as a hint or heeded closely. “And yes, as long as you are being a good coder and engaging in safe practices, nothing should go wrong. (Hint, hint.)”
Synonyms
indication tip allusion implication innuendo insinuation nod touch trace ace atom thought atomy aught bissel continental bit crumb glimpse dab intimation breath clue tinge mite pinch jot speck soupcon suggestion
Etymology
From Middle English hinten, hynten, variant of henten (“to lay hold of, catch”), from Old English hentan (“to seize, grasp”), from Proto-West Germanic *hantijan, from Proto-Germanic *hantijaną. Doublet of hent. Related also to hunt.
Webster’s 1913
- verb To bring to mind by a slight mention or remote allusion; to suggest in an indirect manner; as, to hint a suspicion.
- verb To make an indirect reference, suggestion, or allusion; to allude vaguely to something.
- noun A remote allusion; slight mention; intimation; insinuation; a suggestion or reminder, without a full declaration or explanation; also, an occasion or motive.
Etymology [OE. henten, hinten, to seize, to catch, AS. hentan to pursue, take, seize; or Icel. ymta to mutter, ymtr a muttering, Dan. ymte to whisper. sq. root36. Cf. Hent.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “hint”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details