| 1. | an indirect, covert, or helpful suggestion; clue: Give me a hint as to his identity. |
| 2. | a very slight or hardly noticeable amount; soupçon: a hint of garlic in the salad dressing. |
| 3. | perceived indication or suggestion; note; intimation: a hint of spring in the air. |
| 4. | Obsolete. an occasion or opportunity. |
| 5. | to give a hint of: gray skies hinting a possible snowfall. |
| 6. | to make indirect suggestion or allusion; subtly imply (usually fol. by at): The article hinted at corruption in the mayor's office. |

hint (hĭnt) n.
v. tr. To indicate or make known in an indirect manner. v. intr. To give a hint: wouldn't hint at the true purpose of the meeting. See Synonyms at suggest. [Probably from Middle English hinten, henten, to catch, grasp, from Old English hentan.] hint'er n. |