• Hint

    Pronunciation

    • IPA: /hɪnt/
    • Rhymes: -ɪnt

    Origin

    From obsolete hent, from Old English hentan ("to seize"), from Proto-Germanic *hantijanÄ….

    Full definition of hint

    Noun

    hint

    (plural hints)
    1. A clue.
      I needed a hint to complete the crossword.
    2. A tacit suggestion that avoids a direct statement.
      He gave me a hint that my breath smelt.
    3. A small, barely detectable amount of.
      There was a hint of irony in his voice.
      I could taste a hint of lemon in the wine.
      • 1922, Ben Travers, A Cuckoo in the Nest Chapter 2, Mother very rightly resented the slightest hint of condescension. She considered that the exclusiveness of Peter's circle was due not to its distinction, but to the fact that it was an inner Babylon of prodigality and whoredom,....
    4. 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. Also known as hinting.
      This font does not scale well; at small point sizes it has no hinting at all, and the hints that it has for the 10- and 12-point letter 'g' still need work.
    5. (obsolete) An opportunity; occasion; fit time.
      • 1610, , by William Shakespeare, act 1 scene 2I, not remembering how I cried out then,
        Will cry it o'er again: it is a hint
        That wrings mine eyes to't.

    Synonyms

    • (small amount) see also .

    Verb

    1. (intransitive) To suggest tacitly without a direct statement; to provide a clue.She hinted at the possibility of a recount of the votes.
      • 1913, w, Lord Stranleigh Abroad Chapter 4, “I have tried, as I hinted, to enlist the co-operation of other capitalists, but experience has taught me that any appeal is futile that does not impinge directly upon cupidity. … .”
    2. (transitive) To bring to mind by a slight mention or remote allusion; to suggest in an indirect manner.to hint a suspicion
      • Alexander PopeJust hint a fault and hesitate dislike.
    3. (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.

    Synonyms

    Anagrams

    © Wiktionary
    • © 2013 - 2023 All Rights Reserved