insinuative, a.
(ɪnˈsɪnjuːeɪtɪv, -ətɪv)
[f. L. insinuāt-, ppl. stem of insinuāre to insinuate + -ive: cf. F. insinuatif (17th c. in Hatz.-Darm.).]
Characterized by insinuation, tending to insinuate.
1. Having the tendency or property of stealing into favour or confidence; subtly ingratiating.
| 1592 Bacon Obs. Libel i. in Resuscitatio (1661) 108 Any Popular, or Insinuative, Carriage of Himself. 1612 T. Taylor Comm. Titus ii. 14 Preuent the wiles and policies of this tyrant; for he is of a serpentine, creeping, and insinuatiue nature. 1626 W. Sclater Exp. 2 Thess. (1629) A iv b, First, Proœme insinuatiue, Cap. i. ad Vers. 5. [Cf. prec. 3 b.] 1647 Trapp Comm. Matt. vii. 15 The locusts also..have faces like women insinuative and flattering. a 1656 Bp. Hall Gt. Impostor (R.), Is a man..plaine dealing? he is rudely uncivill: is he wisely insinuative? he is a flatterer. 1683 Cave Ecclesiastici, Athanasius 93 His Discourse [was] plausible and insinuative. 1768–74 Tucker Lt. Nat. (1834) II. 401 The insinuative force of sympathy and intercourse with other people. |
2. Tending to insinuate or gently instil into the mind.
| 1786 G. Chalmers Life De Foe (1841) 78 Such insinuative instruction as [has] seldom been equalled, but never surpassed. |
3. Characterized by or involving insinuation or suggestion; given to or making insinuations; prone to allusive suggestion; suggestive, hinting.
| 1648 E. Sparke in Shute's Sarah & Hagar (1649) a ij a, None whatsoever extant [writings are] so copious and insinuative in the Application. 1736 T. Lediard Life Marlborough II. 223 What a Heap of insinuative Scandal..is here thrown upon the greatest Man of his Age. 1859 Kingsley Misc. (1860) II. 35 Not to excite the minds of the public against him by those insinuative or vituperative epithets, which are but adders and scorpions. |
Hence inˈsinuatively adv., in an insinuative manner; inˈsinuativeness, insinuative quality.
| 1617 Collins Def. Bp. Ely ii. viii. 309 Not literally, not expressely, but yet insinuatiuely and intentionally. 1657–83 Evelyn Hist. Relig. (1850) II. 249 Craftily and insinuatively introduced by the subtlety of Satan. 1727 Bailey vol. II, Insinuatingness, Insinuativeness, insinuating Nature, Engagingness, Winningness. 1837 T. Hook Jack Brag ii, Appeared to be wholly unconscious of his insinuativeness. |