n. & v.
n. 1 a slight or indirect indication or suggestion (took the hint and left). 2 a small piece of practical information (handy hints on cooking). 3 a very small trace; a suggestion (a hint of perfume).
v.tr. (often foll. by that + clause) suggest slightly (hinted the contrary; hinted that they were wrong). hint at give a hint of; refer indirectly to.
[ app. f. obs. hent grasp, lay hold of, f. OE hentan, f. Gmc, rel. to HUNT ]