intimateness

Variant of intimate

adjective

  1. pertaining to the inmost character of a thing; fundamental: the intimate structure of the atom
  2. most private or personal: his intimate feelings
  3. closely acquainted or associated; very familiar: an intimate friend
  4. promoting a feeling of privacy, coziness, romance, etc.: an intimate nightclub
    1. resulting from careful study or investigation; thorough: an intimate knowledge of French
    2. very close: intimate acquaintance with the facts
  5. having illicit sexual relations: a euphemism

Origin: altered (infl. by the v.) < earlier intime < Fr < L intimus, superl. of intus, within: see intestine

noun

an intimate friend or companion

transitive verb intimated, intimating

  1. Archaic to make known formally; announce
  2. to make known indirectly; hint or imply

Origin: < L intimatus, pp. of intimare, to announce < intimus

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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