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Hint vs Signify - What's the difference?

hint | signify | Related terms |

Hint is a related term of signify.


As verbs the difference between hint and signify

is that hint is to suggest tacitly without a direct statement; to provide a clue while signify is to give (something) a meaning or an importance.

As a noun hint

is a clue.

hint

English

(wikipedia hint)

Noun

(en noun)
  • A clue.
  • A tacit suggestion that avoids a direct statement.
  • A small, barely detectable amount of.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1922, author=(Ben Travers), title=(A Cuckoo in the Nest)
    • , chapter=2 citation , passage=Mother very rightly resented the slightest hint of condescension. She considered that the exclusiveness of Peter's circle was due not to its distinction, but to the fact that it was an inner Babylon of prodigality and whoredom,
  • Information in a computer-based font that suggests how the outlines of the font's glyphs should be distorted in order to produce, at specific sizes, a visually appealing pixel-based rendering. Also known as hinting .
  • (obsolete) An opportunity; occasion; fit time.
  • * 1610 , , act 1 scene 2
    • I, not remembering how I cried out then, / Will cry it o'er again: it is a hint / That wrings mine eyes to't.

    Synonyms

    * (small amount) see also .

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To suggest tacitly without a direct statement; to provide a clue.
    • She hinted at the possibility of a recount of the votes .
  • * {{quote-book, year=1913, author=
    • , title=Lord Stranleigh Abroad , chapter=4 citation , passage=“I have tried, as I hinted , to enlist the co-operation of other capitalists, but experience has taught me that any appeal is futile that does not impinge directly upon cupidity. … .”}}
  • To bring to mind by a slight mention or remote allusion; to suggest in an indirect manner.
    • to hint a suspicion
  • * Alexander Pope
    • Just hint a fault and hesitate dislike.
  • To develop and add hints to a font.
    • The typographer worked all day on hinting her new font so it would look good on computer screens .

    Synonyms

    * allude * imply * insinuate * suggest

    Anagrams

    * ----

    signify

    English

    Verb

    (en-verb)
  • To give (something) a meaning or an importance.
  • To show one’s intentions with a sign etc.
  • * (rfdate) (William Shakespeare)
    • I'll to the king; and signify to him / That thus I have resign'd my charge to you.
  • * (rfdate) (Jonathan Swift)
    • The government should signify to the Protestants of Ireland that want of silver is not to be remedied.
  • To mean; to betoken.
  • * (rfdate) (William Shakespeare)
    • A tale / Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, / Signifying nothing.

    Synonyms

    * (l) * (l)