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Intimate vs Signify - What's the difference?

intimate | signify | Related terms |

Signify is a synonym of intimate.



As verbs the difference between intimate and signify

is that intimate is to suggest or disclose discreetly while signify is to give (something) a meaning or an importance.

As an adjective intimate

is closely acquainted; familiar.

As a noun intimate

is a very close friend.

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.

    Related terms

    * intimacy * intimation

    External links

    * * English heteronyms English intransitive verbs ----

    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)