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Insinuate vs Inquire - What's the difference?

insinuate | inquire |

As verbs the difference between insinuate and inquire

is that insinuate is to creep, wind, or flow into; to enter gently, slowly, or imperceptibly, as into crevices while inquire is to ask (about something).

insinuate

English

Verb

  • (rare) To creep, wind, or flow into; to enter gently, slowly, or imperceptibly, as into crevices.
  • * Woodward
  • The water easily insinuates itself into, and placidly distends, the vessels of vegetables.
  • (figurative, by extension) To ingratiate; to obtain access to or introduce something by subtle, cunning or artful means.
  • * 1995 , , p. 242
  • Nanny didn't so much enter places as insinuate herself; she had unconsciously taken a natural talent for liking people and developed it into an occult science.
  • * John Locke
  • All the art of rhetoric, besides order and clearness, are for nothing else but to insinuate wrong ideas, move the passions, and thereby mislead the judgment.
  • * Dryden
  • Horace laughs to shame all follies and insinuates virtue, rather by familiar examples than by the severity of precepts.
  • * Clarendon
  • He insinuated himself into the very good grace of the Duke of Buckingham.
  • To hint; to suggest tacitly while avoiding a direct statement.
  • She insinuated that her friends had betrayed her.

    Synonyms

    * (Make a way for or introduce something by subtle, crafty or artful means. ): imply

    Anagrams

    * ----

    inquire

    English

    Alternative forms

    * enquire (chiefly British)

    Verb

    (intransitive'' or ''transitive )
  • (lb) To ask (about something).
  • To make an inquiry or an investigation.
  • *
  • *:"A fine man, that Dunwody, yonder," commented the young captain, as they parted, and as he turned to his prisoner. "We'll see him on in Washington some day.A strong man—a strong one; and a heedless." ¶ "Of what party is he?" she inquired , as though casually.
  • Usage notes

    * In British English, the spelling enquire' is more common, with '''inquire''' often reserved for official inquests. In Canada and the US, both spellings are acceptable, though ' inquire is favored.

    Synonyms

    * (l)

    Derived terms

    * inquire after * inquire of

    See also

    * inquest * inquisition * inquisitive * inquisitor English reporting verbs ----