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.
© Webster 1913.
In"ti*mate, n.
An intimate friend or associate; a confidant.
Gov. of the Tongue.
© Webster 1913.
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.
© Webster 1913.