Innuendo
from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Innuendo \In`nu*en"do\, n.; pl. {Innuedoes}(?). [L., by
intimation, by hinting, gerund of innuere, innutum, to give a
nod, to intimate; pref. in- in, to + -nuere (in comp.) to
nod. See {Nutation}.]
1. An oblique hint; a remote allusion or reference, usually
derogatory to a person or thing not named; an insinuation.
[1913 Webster]
Mercury . . . owns it a marriage by an innuendo.
--Dryden.
[1913 Webster]
Pursue your trade of scandal picking;
Your innuendoes, when you tell us,
That Stella loves to talk with fellows. --Swift.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Law) An averment employed in pleading, to point the
application of matter otherwise unintelligible; an
interpretative parenthesis thrown into quoted matter to
explain an obscure word or words; -- as, the plaintiff
avers that the defendant said that he (innuendo the
plaintiff) was a thief. --Wharton.
[1913 Webster]
Note: The term is so applied from having been the
introductory word of this averment or parenthetic
explanation when pleadings were in Latin. The word
"meaning" is used as its equivalent in modern forms.
Syn: Insinuation; suggestion; hint; intimation; reference;
allusion; implication; representation; -- {Innuendo},
{Insinuation}.
Usage: An innuendo is an equivocal allusion so framed as to
point distinctly at something which is injurious to
the character or reputation of the person referred to.
An insinuation turns on no such double use of
language, but consists in artfully winding into the
mind imputations of an injurious nature without making
any direct charge.
[1913 Webster]
from
Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856)
INNUENDO, pleading. An averment which explains the defendant's meaning by
reference to antecedent matter. Salk. 513; 1 Ld. Raym. 256; 12 Mod. 139; 1
Saund. 243. The innuendo is mostly used in actions for slander. An innuendo,
as, "he the said plaintiff meaning," is only explanatory of some matter
expressed; it serves to apply the slander to the precedent matter, but
cannot add or enlarge, extend, or change the sense of the previous words,
and the matter to which it alludes must always appear from the antecedent
parts of the declaration or indictment. 1 Chit. Pl. 383; 3 Caines' Rep. 76;
7 Johns. R. 271; 5 Johns. R. 211; 8 Johns. R. 109; 8 N. H. Rep. 256.
3. It is necessary only when the intent may be mistaken, or when it
cannot be collected from the libel or slander itself. Cowp. 679; 5 East,
463.
4. If the innuendo materially enlarge the sense of the words it will
vitiate the declaration or indictment. 6 T. R. 691; 5 Binn. 218; 5 Johns. R.
220; 6 Johns. R. 83; 7 Johns. Rep. 271. But when the new matter stated in an
innuendo is not necessary to support the action, it may be rejected as
surplusage. 9 East, R. 95; 7 Johns. R. 272. Vide, generally, Stark. on Slan.
293; 1 Chit. Pl. 383; 3 Chit. Cr. Law, 873; Bac. Ab. Slander, R; 1 Saund.
243, n. 4; 4 Com. Dig. 712; 14 Vin. Ab. 442; Dane's Ab. Index, h. t.; 4 Co.
17.
from
Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
104 Moby Thesaurus words for "innuendo":
accusal, accusation, accusing, allegation, allegement, allegory,
allusion, animadversion, arcane meaning, arraignment, aspersion,
assumption, bill of particulars, blame, bringing of charges,
bringing to book, broad hint, causticity, charge, clue, coloration,
complaint, connotation, count, cue, cynicism, delation,
denouncement, denunciation, gentle hint, gesture, glimmer,
glimmering, hint, impeachment, implication, implied meaning,
import, imputation, index, indication, indictment, indirect,
inference, information, inkling, insinuation, intimation,
invective, ironic suggestion, irony, kick, lawsuit,
laying of charges, look, meaning, metaphorical sense, nod, nuance,
nudge, occult meaning, overtone, personal remark, personality,
plaint, presumption, presupposition, prompt, prosecution,
reference, reflection, reproach, sarcasm, satire, satiric wit,
scent, sign, signal, slur, sly suggestion, spoor, subsense,
subsidiary sense, suggestion, suit, supposition, suspicion,
symbolism, symptom, taxing, telltale, tinge, touch, track,
true bill, uncomplimentary remark, undercurrent, undermeaning,
undertone, unspoken accusation, veiled accusation, whisper,
whispering campaign, wink
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