SuaviloquyToday’s word

imply

Imply, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Implied; p. pr. & vb. n. Implying.]

Etymology: [From the same source as employ. See Employ, Ply, and cf. Implicate, Apply.]

1. To infold or involve; to wrap up. [Obs.] "His head in curls implied." Chapman.

2. To involve in substance or essence, or by fair inference, or by construction of law, when not include virtually; as, war implies fighting. Where a mulicious act is proved, a mulicious intention is implied. Bp. Sherlock. When a man employs a laborer to work for him, . . . the act of hiring implies an obligation and a promise that he shall pay him a reasonable reward for his services. Blackstone.

3. To refer, ascribe, or attribute. [Obs.] Whence might this distaste arise If [from] neither your perverse and peevish will. To which I most imply it. J. Webster.

Syn. -- To involve; include; comprise; import; mean; denote; signify; betoken. See Involve.

Shades of meaning

Fernald has no entry of its own for imply; he lists it under allude, involve.

Where he writes about it:

One may indicate his wishes, intimate his plans, imply his opinion, signify his will, suggest a course of action. — from allude