intimate English · revision 10249
17 Oct 2026, 02:16 by bogdan “en10k b0340: realm … rational”
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+ The adjective intimate, close, and the verb intimate, to hint, both come from Late Latin intimātus, but are pronounced differently.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)
+
+ {{homograph|1|close}}
+
+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1632|origins=la intimatus|origins=la intimus}}
+
+ ==Pronunciation==
+ * IPA: UK /ˈɪn.tɪ.mət/, US /ˈɪn.t̬ə.mət/^(Roach et al. 2011)
+
+ ==Etymology==
+ It is [[bor|la|intimātus]], the past participle of intimāre, to make known, announce, impress deeply,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) from Latin intimus, inmost, innermost, as a noun a close friend,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) a superlative of in, in, with the ending -timus as in ultimus.^(Etymonline) An earlier form, intime, very familiar, is from before 1618.^(Barnhart 1988)
+
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ Inmost, deep-seated: 1632.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024)
+
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ Close in acquaintance or friendship is first recorded in 1635, from the Latin sense,^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) and relating to one's inmost thoughts and feelings from 1671.^(OED 1989) The noun, a familiar friend, is from the 1650s;^(Etymonline) it was sometimes written in a false Spanish form, intimado, in the 17th to 19th centuries.^(Etymonline) The euphemism for sexual relations is from 1889,^(OED 1989) use for women's underclothing from 1904,^(OED 1989) and ''intimates'' as a commercial word for women's underwear by 1988.^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Timeline==
+ * 1632 – inmost.^(OED 1989)
+ * 1635 – closely acquainted.^(OED 1989)
+ * 1650s – a close friend (noun).^(Etymonline)
+ * 1671 – relating to inmost thoughts.^(OED 1989)
+ * 1889 – sexual (euphemism).^(OED 1989)
+
+ ==Modern meaning==
+ ===Adjective===
+ # Marked by close acquaintance or friendship; [[familiar]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)
+ # Very personal or private.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)
+ # Essential or innermost; showing one's deepest nature.^(AHD)
+ # Informal, warm and private in atmosphere: ''an intimate restaurant''.^(AHD)
+ # ''(euphemistic)'' Having a sexual relationship.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)
+ # Having deep knowledge of something: ''an intimate knowledge of the city''.^(Collins 2023)
+
+ ===Noun===
+ # A close friend or [[confidant]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)
+
+ ==Word family==
+ * [[intimacy]]
+ * [[intimately]]
+ * [[intimateness]]
+
+ {{homograph|2|hint}}
+
+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=back-formation|attested=1538|origins=en intimation|origins=la intimare}}
+
+ ==Pronunciation==
+ * IPA: UK /ˈɪn.tɪ.meɪt/, US /ˈɪn.t̬ə.meɪt/^(Roach et al. 2011)
+
+ ==Etymology==
+ It is probably a back-formation from [[intimation]] (1442–43, Scottish),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) modelled on Late Latin [[m|la|intimātus]], past participle of intimāre, to make known, announce.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) The Old French verb was intimer.^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ To communicate or make known formally: 1538 in Barnhart, the 1530s in Etymonline.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ To suggest indirectly, to hint, is from 1590, in Spenser's ''Faerie Queene''.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Timeline==
+ * 1442–43 – intimation.^(Barnhart 1988)
+ * 1538 – to announce.^(Barnhart 1988)
+ * 1590 – to hint.^(Barnhart 1988)
+
+ ==Modern meaning==
+ ===Verb===
+ # To make known subtly and indirectly; to [[hint]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)
+ # To announce or proclaim.^(AHD)
+
+ ==Word family==
+ * [[intimation]]
+ * [[intimater]]
+
+ ==Related words==
+ * [[interior]]
+ * [[ultimate]]
+
+ ==References==
+ {{reflist}}