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insinuation

/ɪnˌsɪnjuˈeɪʃən/ noun

Latin root: insinuatio Wiktionary

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about insinuation at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

  1. The act or process of insinuating; a creeping, winding, or flowing in.
  2. The act of gaining favor, affection, or influence, by gentle or artful means; — formerly used in a good sense, as of friendly influence or interposition.
  3. The art or power of gaining good will by a prepossessing manner.

Origin

Borrowed from Middle French insinuation, from Old French, from Latin insinuatio, from īnsinuō (“to push in, creep in, steal in”), from in (“in”) + sinus (“a winding, bend, bay, fold, bosom”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)