innuendon.
/ɪnjuːˈɛndəʊ/ I. As a formula: to wit.
1. The medieval Latin formula used esp. in legal documents to introduce a parenthetical explanation of the precise reference of a preceding noun or pronoun; = meaning, to wit, that is to say.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > kind or sort > individual character or quality > the quality of being specific > [adverb] > namely or that is to say
namelya1200
i.a1300
namandlya1400
scilicet?a1425
videlicet1464
scil.a1500
viz.a1543
innuendo1564
videl.1589
sc.1607
i.e.1662
vid.1676
v.g.1678
1564 in F. J. Furnivall Child-marriages, Divorces, & Ratifications Diocese Chester (1897) 123 What-soeuer thinge it is, that knave your sonne—innuendo this deponentes sonne—made it, & brought it to the Church.
1656 T. Blount Glossographia Innuendo, is a Law term, most used in Declarations and other pleadings..to declare and design the person or thing which was named incertain before; as to say, he (innuendo the Plaintiff) is a Theef.
1701 D. Defoe Let. to How in Misc. (1703) 343 ‘But when Religion comes to be the Mode of a Country, so many Painted Hypocrites, there's the Word, get into the Church, that Guile is not to be seen till it arrive to Apostacy’. Pray, Sir, who can these Painted Hypocrites refer to, that you should say, Innuendo, All those that are not of my Party, or that are not so stingy as I?
II. Hence, as noun.
2.
a. The parenthetical explanation or specification itself; an interpolated or appended explanation of, or construction put upon a word, expression, or passage; esp. the injurious meaning or signification alleged to be conveyed by words not per se injurious or actionable, which, in an action for libel or slander, is usually introduced into the record and issue by the words ‘meaning thereby’, after the expressions alleged to have been used.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > jurisprudence > [noun] > interpretation of the law > an interpolated
innuendo1701
1701 D. Defoe Let. to How in Misc. 341 I cannot find one Word in the whole Book which can, no, not with the help of an Innuendo, be so much as pretended to look that way.
1714 W. Scroggs Pract. Courts-leet (ed. 3) 196 No Innuendo can make such Words actionable.
a1715 Bp. G. Burnet Hist. Own Time (1724) I. 571 This by an Innuendo was said to be an evidence to prove, that he [sc. Sidney] was in a plot against the King's life.
a1726 G. Gilbert Cases Law & Equity (1760) 116 That to tie up the Meaning of the first Words to Bankruptcy, the Plaintiff had laid an Innuendo.
1753 Trial J. Stewart 72 We have seen doubtful actions by the help of innuendoes construed criminally.
b. The words or expressions thus parenthetically explained, or needing explanation; a blank to be filled up with the name of the person to whom it is alleged to refer.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > naming > anonymity or lack of a name > [noun] > blank space for a name
innuendo1755
1755 Ld. Chesterfield in World No. 105. ⁋11 By publishing the names at full length in your paper, I humbly conceive, said he, that you avoid all the troublesome consequences of innuendo's.
1772 ‘Junius’ Stat Nominis Umbra I. Pref. p. xvi He told the jury..that they had nothing to determine, except the fact of printing and publishing, and whether or no the blanks, or inuendoes were properly filled up in the information.
1802 Edinb. Rev. Oct. 106 An indictment for a libel, with all the inuendos filled up.
3. An oblique hint, indirect suggestion; an allusive remark concerning a person or thing, esp. one of a depreciatory kind.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > information > hint or covert suggestion > [noun] > innuendo
innuendo1689
insinuendo1885
significacio1933
1689 J. Collier Moral Ess. conc. Pride 37 What a broad Innuendo is here upon the beneficed Clergy?
1702 R. L'Estrange tr. Seneca's Morals by Way of Abstract (ed. 8) 517 His Innuendo's are infinitely more Instructive than his Words at length.
1732 Polit. Ballads (1860) II. 234 For Sir Philip well knows That his innuendoes Will serve him no longer in verse or in prose.
1788 R. Burns Let. 13 Nov. (2001) I. 336 They so intoxicated me with their sly insinuations and delicate innuendoes of Compliment that if it had not been for a lucky recollection..I had certainly looked on myself as a person of no small consequence.
1849 W. Irving Oliver Goldsmith (rev. ed.) xxxi. 272 He..sought by nods and winks and inuendoes to intimate his authorship.
1855 J. L. Motley Rise Dutch Republic I. ii. iv. 394 The Cardinal omitted nothing in the way of anecdote or innuendo which could injure the character of the leading nobles.
Compounds
attributive and in other combinations.
ΚΠ
1772 Batchelor (1773) II. 156 He justly termed it an inuendo resolution.
1807 E. S. Barrett Rising Sun III. 66 That thou wert..exhibited to public scorn, by any innuendo-making Attorney-General.
Derivatives
innuˈendoish adj. rare having the character of innuendo.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > information > hint or covert suggestion > [adjective] > innuendo
innuendoing1705
innuendoish1860
1860 G. Meredith Evan Harrington xxxviii, in Once a Week 1 Sept. The Countess's confessional thoughts were all inuendoish, aërial; too delicate to live in our shameless tongue.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1900; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
innuendov.
1. intransitive. To utter or make innuendoes.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > information > hint or covert suggestion > hint or suggest [verb (intransitive)] > make innuendoes
innuendo1852
1705 [implied in: S. Whately in W. S. Perry Hist. Coll. Amer. Colonial Church: Virginia (1870) I. 177 His insinuating and Innuendoing methods. (at innuendoing adj. at innuendo v. Derivatives)].
1852 R. S. Surtees Mr. Sponge's Sporting Tour vi. xxxi. 190 We have heard that there were six mammas..innuendoing, nodding, and hinting to their friends, ‘that, &c.’.
1896 Voice (N.Y.) 8 Oct. 1 I believe that..it is better for a man to ‘say his say’ straight, than to kite and innuendo, no matter how sweetly.
2. transitive. To bring into (some position) by making innuendoes.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > information > hint or covert suggestion > hint at or suggest [verb (transitive)] > convey by innuendo > bring into by innuendo
innuendo1757
1757 Bp. W. Warburton Lett. (1809) 245 The rogues..would..inuendo me into some disaffection against the government.
3. To convey by innuendo, to insinuate.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > information > hint or covert suggestion > hint at or suggest [verb (transitive)] > convey by innuendo
innuendo1858
1858 R. S. Surtees Ask Mamma i [He] would inuendo his own version of the story as dexterously as he could.
4. Law. To interpret or construe by attaching an innuendo.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > jurisprudence > jurisprudence [verb (transitive)] > interpret for legal purposes > interpret by interpolated construction
innuendo1851
1851 W. Bagehot Lit. Stud. (1879) I. 349 They take the other side's article piece by piece, and comment on him, and, as they say in libel cases, innuendo him.
1890 Ld. Kinnear in Times 6 Feb. 7/6 What is the ground upon which you innuendo the statement in this letter to mean that he was in point of fact given to drink?
Derivatives
innuˈendoing adj. making innuendoes.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > information > hint or covert suggestion > [adjective] > innuendo
innuendoing1705
innuendoish1860
1705 S. Whately in W. S. Perry Hist. Coll. Amer. Colonial Church: Virginia (1870) I. 177 His insinuating and Innuendoing methods.
1839–49 J. Stephen Ess. Eccl. Biogr. (1850) II. 32 This innuendoing special pleader.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1900; most recently modified version published online June 2019).
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n.1564v.1705