Insinuate \In*sin"u*ate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Insinuated}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Insinuating}.] [L. insinuatus, p. p. of insinuareto insinuate; pref. in- in + sinus the bosom. See {Sinuous}.] 1. To introduce gently or slowly, as by a winding or narrow passage, or a gentle, persistent movement.
The water easily insinuates itself into, and placidly distends, the vessels of vegetables. --Woodward.
2. To introduce artfully; to infuse gently; to instill.
All the art of rhetoric, besides order and clearness, are for nothing else but to insinuate wrong ideas, move the passions, and thereby mislead the judgment. --Locke.
Horace laughs to shame all follies and insinuates virtue, rather by familiar examples than by the severity of precepts. --Dryden.
3. To hint; to suggest by remote allusion; -- often used derogatorily; as, did you mean to insinuate anything?
4. To push or work (one's self), as into favor; to introduce by slow, gentle, or artful means; to ingratiate; -- used reflexively.
He insinuated himself into the very good grace of the Duke of Buckingham. --Clarendon.
Syn: To instill; hint; suggest; intimate.
Insinuate \In*sin"u*ate\, v. i. 1. To creep, wind, or flow in; to enter gently, slowly, or imperceptibly, as into crevices.
2. To ingratiate one's self; to obtain access or favor by flattery or cunning.
He would insinuate with thee but to make thee sigh. --Shak.
To insinuate, flatter, bow, and bend my limbs. --Shak.
"There is no hidden attempt to insinuate unification through communization and no intention to impose our ideas and system on the other side," Mr. Kang told the U.N.
"If someone would have offered me a hand, I would have shaken it and said thank you," he said. "I don't want to insinuate he got a hand, but if he was offered help, any fool would say thank you.
To have your knowledgeable paper insinuate that Pittsburgh may not be deserving is somewhat disconcerting.
He manages to imply much more than he says, to insinuate intelligence.
"To insinuate that racism is involved in the furlough issue operates from the ridiculous premise that black citizens care less about having a monster in their neighborhoods like Willie Horton than do white people," Goodin said.
"He wants to insinuate he was there," the officer said. "When questioned repeatedly he says `yes.'
Premier Jacques Chirac condemned those who "try to insinuate" that France made a deal with Iran.