Word of the day: INKLING

Pronunciaton: in·kling  UK/ˈɪŋ.klɪŋ/   US/ˈɪŋ.klɪŋ/

Meaning

A slight suggestion or vague idea; a hint or a faint notion about something, often before it's fully realised or understood.

Origin and History

The word inkling originates from Middle English, specifically from the word inkle, which meant to hint at or to mention in an undertone.

This, in turn, likely comes from the Old English word ‘inca’, meaning doubt or suspicion. Ultimately, the root may be Proto-Indo-European ‘yenǵ’-, meaning illness.

Example from literature

  • I missed them a great deal during those days, long before I had any inkling that I would spend decades apart from them. – Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela
  • That made me abandon any inkling of escaping. – Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography by Mark Mathabane

Synonyms

  • Idea
  • vague idea
  • Notion
  • Glimmering