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Cordial vs Intimate - What's the difference?

cordial | intimate |

As adjectives the difference between cordial and intimate

is that cordial is hearty; sincere; warm; affectionate while intimate is closely acquainted; familiar.

As nouns the difference between cordial and intimate

is that cordial is a concentrated noncarbonated soft drink which is diluted with water before drinking while intimate is a very close friend.

As a verb intimate is

to suggest or disclose discreetly.

cordial

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Hearty; sincere; warm; affectionate.
  • * 1667 , '', 1859, Thomas Keightley (editor), ''The Poems of John Milton , Volume 1, page 381,
  • He, on his side / Leaning half raised, with looks of cordial love / Hung over her enamoured.
  • * 1885 , George Washington Schuyler, Colonial New York: Philip Schuyler and His Family , C. Scribner's Sons,
  • The relations between the Earl of Bellomont and Colonel Schuyler were formal, but not cordial from the first.
  • Said of someone radiating warmth and friendliness; genial.
  • * 1869 , ,
  • The sight of London warmed my heart with various emotions, such as a cordial man must draw from the heart of all humanity.
  • (rare) Tending to revive, cheer, or invigorate; giving strength or spirits.
  • * 1634 , (editor), ''The Poetical Works of John Milton , Volume 3, page 106,
  • And first behold this cordial julep here / That flames and dances in his crystal bounds, / With spirits of balm, and fragrant syrups mix'd.
  • (obsolete) Proceeding from the heart.
  • * 1667 , '', 1957, Merritt Yerkes Hughes (editor), ''Complete Poems and Major Prose , page 373,
  • Who stooping op'n'd my left side, and took / From thence a Rib with cordial spirits warm, / And Life-blood streaming fresh;

    Synonyms

    * heartfelt * (radiating warmth and friendliness) affable, amiable * (tending to revive) cheering, invigorating

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (UK, AU, NZ) A concentrated noncarbonated soft drink which is diluted with water before drinking.
  • (UK, AU, NZ) An individual serving of such a diluted drink.
  • A pleasant-tasting medicine.
  • A liqueur prepared using the infusion process.
  • * 1728 , '', Act III, Scene 1, in 1828, ''British Theatre, Comprising Tragedies, Comedies, Operas, and Farces , 827,
  • Lucy . But, miss Polly—in the way of friendship, will you give me leave to propose a glass of cordial to you ?
    Polly . Strong waters are apt to give me the headache.—I hope, madam, you will excuse me?
  • * 1908 , Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables , L. C. Page & Co.
  • [Marilla] had put the bottle of raspberry cordial down in the cellar instead of in the closet [...].
  • A candy (or bonbon) usually made of milk chocolate, filled with small fruits (often maraschino cherries) and syrup or fondant.
  • Hypernyms

    * liqueur

    intimate

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Closely acquainted; familiar.
  • an intimate friend
    He and his sister deeply valued their intimate relationship as they didn't have much else to live for.
  • Of or involved in a sexual relationship.
  • She enjoyed some intimate time alone with her husband.
  • Personal; private.
  • an intimate setting

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A very close friend.
  • Only a couple of intimates had ever read his writing.
  • (in plural intimates ) Women's underwear, sleepwear, or lingerie, especially offered for sale in a store.
  • You'll find bras and panties in the women's intimates section upstairs.

    Synonyms

    * (close friend) bosom buddy, bosom friend, cater-cousin

    Verb

    (intimat)
  • To suggest or disclose discreetly.
  • * '>citation
  •     The Kaiser beamed. Von Bulow had praised him. Von Bulow had exalted him and humbled himself. The Kaiser could forgive anything after that. "Haven't I always told you," he exclaimed with enthusiasm, "that we complete one another famously? We should stick together, and we will!"
        [...]
        Von Bulow saved himself in time—but, canny diplomat that he was, he nevertheless had made one error: he should have begun by talking about his own shortcomings and Wilhelm's superiority—not by intimating that the Kaiser was a half-wit in need of a guardian.
    He intimated that we should leave before the argument escalated.