hint
UK[hɪnt]US[hɪnt]
n
A small piece of information that helps you guess an answer or do something more easily.
n
A useful piece of advice, especially about how to do something.
v
To suggest something in an indirect way.
Etymology
The word 'hint' originates from the Old English verb 'hentan', meaning 'to seize or grasp'. This physical sense of 'laying hold of' something evolved metaphorically in the 17th century. The meaning shifted from a physical grasp to the act of 'grasping' or 'catching' an idea indirectly, leading to its modern sense of a slight indication or indirect suggestion. This semantic journey from the concrete action of seizing to the abstract notion of offering a clue illustrates a classic path of linguistic evolution within the Germanic language family.
Analysis
The word 'hint' is a simplex word of Germanic origin. It is derived from the Middle English 'henten' or 'hinten', meaning 'to seize, grasp', which in turn came from Old English 'hentan'. The core semantic element is the entire root 'hint-'.
Examples
She gave a strong hint that she was planning to leave her job.
The book is full of handy hints for gardeners.
He hinted that he might be late for the meeting.