intimate

Intimate is an adjective with several related meanings centered on closeness, privacy, and personal connection. It can describe people who are closely related or familiar with one another, such as an intimate friend or intimate knowledge gained through close involvement. It can also refer to private or personal matters, as in intimate conversations or intimate details that reveal personal information. In addition, intimate can describe relationships characterized by closeness and affection, including romantic or sexual dimensions, and it can describe spaces or atmospheres that foster privacy and closeness, such as an intimate setting or an intimate room.

As a noun, intimate can refer to a close friend or confidant, though this usage is more literary or dated. As a verb, to intimate means to imply or suggest something indirectly or by a hint, rather than stating it explicitly. The etymology traces to Latin intimus, meaning innermost, which informs the sense of privateness and closeness that pervades its uses.

Usage notes: intimal variations appear in both formal and informal contexts. In some settings, intimate may carry a mild romantic or sexual nuance; in others it simply means private or confidential. The word should be chosen with attention to tone and audience to avoid unintended connotations. Examples include: an intimate friend, intimate knowledge of a subject, an intimate conversation, intimate details, or to intimate that changes are forthcoming.