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Origin and history of intimate

intimate(adj.)

1630s, "closely acquainted, very familiar," also "inmost, intrinsic," from Late Latin intimatus, past participle of intimare "make known, announce, impress," from Latin intimus "inmost, innermost, deepest" (adj.), also used figuratively, of affections, feelings, and as a noun, "close friend."

This is a superlative of Latin in "in" (from PIE root *en "in," and compare in- (2)) with the superlative ending -timus (as in ultimus "last"), here denoting "close association with" (compare maritimus "of the sea").

Intimates (adj.) used euphemistically in reference to women's underwear is attested by 1988, probably short for intimate apparel (by 1889). Related: Intimately.

intimate(v.)

1530s, "make known formally;" 1580s, "suggest indirectly," back-formation from intimation (which could explain the pronunciation) or else from Late Latin intimatus, past participle of intimare "to make known" (see intimate (adj.)). The Old French verb was intimer. Related: Intimated; intimating.

intimate(n.)

1650s, "familiar friend, person with whom one is intimate," from intimate (adj.). Sometimes 17c.-19c. in false Spanish form intimado. Latin intimus had a similar noun sense. Intimates as a commercial euphemism for "women's underwear" is by 1988.

also from 1650s

Entries linking to intimate

intimation(n.)

mid-15c., "action of making known," from Old French intimation (14c.), from Late Latin intimationem (nominative intimatio) "an announcement," noun of action from past-participle stem of Latin intimare "make known, announce, impress" (see intimate (adj.)). Meaning "action of expressing by suggestion or hint, indirect imparting of information" is from 1530s.

intimacy(n.)

1640s, from intimate (adj.) + abstract noun suffix -cy. The sense of "sexual intercourse" is attested from 1670s but its modern currency seems to be via euphemistic use in newspapers (by 1882).

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Trends of intimate

adapted from books.google.com/ngrams/ with a 7-year moving average; ngrams are probably unreliable.

More to explore

adumbrate
1580s, "to outline, to sketch," from Latin adumbratus "sketched, shadowed in outline," also "feigned, unreal, sham, fictitious," past participle of adumbrare "cast a shadow over;" in painting, "to represent (a thing) in outline," from ad "to" (see ad-) + umbrare "to cast in shado
insinuate
1520s, "to covertly and subtly introduce into the mind or heart" (trans.), from Latin insinuatus, past participle of insinuare "to thrust in, push in, make a way; creep in, intrude, bring in by windings and curvings, wind one's way into," from in- "in" (from PIE root *en "in") +
suggest
1520s, "place before another's mind; put forward a proposition," from Latin suggestus, past participle of suggerere "bring up, bring under, lay beneath; furnish, afford, supply; prompt" (see suggestion). The meaning "act so as to call up the idea of (something else); introduce to
familiar
mid-14c., "intimate, very friendly, on a family footing," from Old French famelier "related; friendly," from Latin familiaris..."domestic, private, belonging to a family, of a household;" also "familiar, intimate, friendly," a dissimilation of *familialis...The Latin plural, used as a noun, meant "the slaves," also "a friend, intimate acquaintance, companion."...
privy
early 13c., "secret, concealed, not made known in public;" c. 1300, of places, "secluded," from Old French privé "friendly, intimate...
liaison
Sense of "intimate relations" (especially between lovers) is from 1806....
sociable
1570s, "inclined to seek the company of others," from French sociable (16c.) and directly from Latin sociabilis "close, intimate...
internal
early 15c., "extending toward the interior," from Medieval Latin internalis, from Latin internus "within, inward, internal," figuratively "domestic," expanded from pre-Latin *interos, *interus "on the inside, inward," from PIE *en-ter- (source also of Old Church Slavonic anter, S
repository
late 15c. (Caxton), "vessel, etc., for storage," from French repositoire or directly from Late Latin repositorium "store," in classical Latin, "a stand on which food is placed," from noun use of repositus, past participle of reponere "put away, store" (see repose (v.2)). The figu
confidant
1610s, confident, "(male) person trusted with private affairs," from French confident (16c.), from Italian confidente "a trusty friend," literally "confident, trusty," from Latin confidentem (nominative confidens), present participle of confidere "to trust, confide," from assimil

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