<noun.communication> not a breath of scandal ever touched her
a slight suggestion or vague understanding
<noun.cognition> he had no inkling what was about to happen
Intimation \In`ti*ma"tion\, n. [L. intimatio: cf. F. intimation.] 1. The act of intimating; also, the thing intimated.
2. Announcement; declaration. --Macaulay.
They made an edict with an intimation that whosoever killed a stork, should be banished. --Holland.
3. A hint; an obscure or indirect suggestion or notice; a remote or ambiguous reference; as, he had given only intimations of his design.
Without mentioning the king of England, or giving the least intimation that he was sent by him. --Bp. Burnet.
In response to a reporter's question, he said that "in times past (Mr. Gleason) has said he wouldn't do a hostile situation; there was some intimation that he might," now.