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Vinony

innuendo

noun

  1. hint, insinuation or intimation about a person or thing, especially of a denigrating or a derogatory nature
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Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /ˌɪnjuˈɛndəʊ/

noun

Etymology: From the Latin innuendō (“by nodding”), ablative singular form of innuendum (“a nodding”), gerund of innuō (“to give a nod”).

  1. A derogatory hint or reference to, or (often sexual) insinuation about, a person or thing.

    “She made a devious innuendo about her opponent, who was embarrassed.”

    “At dinner, a dish of stewed eels made Mr. Higgs a little pensive, and he remarked, "that the fair sex slipped through your fingers just like eels." This innuendo was, however, all that disturbed the enjoyment of the day, whose hilarity, as the newspapers say of a public dinner, was prolonged to a late hour.”

  2. A remark that is suggestive of something sexual without stating it explicitly.

    “We were both quite good friends and apart from the playful innuendos about having an affair together we never really did anything.”

    “Later in this phone call, Frank assk Libby on a date, and she accepts the invitation. [...] A similar road toward flirtatious innuendo seems to be at work in the following example. / FIELD NOTE / Fred: Who's that beautiful girl in that great sports car?! / Shirley: ((lightheartedly)) Shut up and get in the car! / Fred: You mean I get to ride with the beautiful girl? / […] Of course, flirtatious may be touched off by more marked sexual innuendo. / FIELD NOTE / ((co-workers are working late, finishing a project)) / Velma: You know how it is when you're close but can't stop. / Sid: ((starts to give Velma a shoulder rub)) / Velma makes a comment with a possible sexual meaning, and Sid responds by initiating body contact (in a public place) to show that he hears (and follows up on) the sexual double entendre.”

  3. A rhetorical device with an omitted but obvious conclusion, made to increase the force of an argument.
  4. Part of a pleading in cases of libel and slander, pointing out what and who was meant by the libellous matter or description.

verb

Etymology: From the Latin innuendō (“by nodding”), ablative singular form of innuendum (“a nodding”), gerund of innuō (“to give a nod”).

  1. To interpret (something libellous or slanderous) in terms of what was implied.

    “A statement that a person's presence at a certain club may be "irksome," may be innuendoed that the person is of such bad character as not to be a fit associate with honourable men.”