v.
Pronunciation: s ə g- ' jest, s ə - ' jest
Function: transitive verb
Etymology: Latin suggestus, past participle of suggerere to pile up, furnish, suggest, from sub- + gerere to carry
Date: 1526
1 a obsolete : to seek to influence : SEDUCE b : to call forth : EVOKE c : to mention or imply as a possibility < suggest ed that he might bring his family> d : to propose as desirable or fitting < suggest a stroll> e : to offer for consideration or as a hypothesis < suggest a solution to a problem>
2 a : to call to mind by thought or association <the explosion ⋯ suggest ed sabotage ― F. L. Paxson> b : to serve as a motive or inspiration for <a play suggest ed by a historic incident>
– sug · gest · er noun
synonyms SUGGEST , IMPLY , HINT , INTIMATE , INSINUATE mean to convey an idea indirectly. SUGGEST may stress putting into the mind by association of ideas, awakening of a desire, or initiating a train of thought <a film title that suggests its subject matter>. IMPLY is close to SUGGEST but may indicate a more definite or logical relation of the unexpressed idea to the expressed <measures implying that bankruptcy was imminent>. HINT implies the use of slight or remote suggestion with a minimum of overt statement < hinted that she might get the job>. INTIMATE stresses delicacy of suggestion without connoting any lack of candor < intimates that there is more to the situation than meets the eye>. INSINUATE applies to the conveying of a usually unpleasant idea in a sly underhanded manner < insinuated that there were shady dealings>.