intimation

plural intimations

1. countableuncountableA hint; an indirect suggestion.

   Without mentioning the king of England, or giving the least intimation that he was sent by him.

   1679, Gilbert Burnet, The History of the Reformation of the Church of England

   2 more examples

   At length, perchance, the immaterial heaven will appear as much higher to the American mind, and the intimations that star it as much brighter.

   1862, Henry David Thoreau, Walking

   And actually I had important intimations to communicate as he faced the end. But intimations weren't much use.

   1976 September, Saul Bellow, Humboldt’s Gift, New York, N.Y.: Avon Books, →ISBN, page 378

2. countableuncountableThe act of intimating.
3. countableuncountableAnnouncement; declaration.

   They made an edict with an intimation that whosoever killed a stork, should be banished.

   1603, Plutarch, translated by Philemon Holland, The Philosophie, Commonlie Called, The Morals […], London: […] Arnold Hatfield, →OCLC

4. countableuncountableThe thing intimated.