Part 839

Milton.

2. That on which anything turns or depends; a governing principle; a cardinal point or rule; as, this argument was the hinge on which the question turned.

3. One of the four cardinal points, east, west, north, or south. [R.]

When the moon is in the hinge at East.

Creech.

Nor slept the winds . . . but rushed abroad.

Milton.

Hinge joint. (a) (Anat.) See Ginglymus. (b) (Mech.) Any joint resembling a hinge, by which two pieces are connected so as to permit relative turning in one plane. -- To be off the hinges, to be in a state of disorder or irregularity; to have lost proper adjustment. Tillotson.

Hinge, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Hinged (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Hinging (?).] 1. To attach by, or furnish with, hinges.

2. To bend. [Obs.] Shak.

Hinge (?), v. i. To stand, depend, hang, or turn, as on a hinge; to depend chiefly for a result or decision or for force and validity; -- usually with on or upon; as, the argument hinges on this point. I. Taylor

Hinged (?), a. Furnished with hinges.

Hinge"less (?), a. Without a hinge or joint.

Hink (?), n. A reaping hook. Knight.

{ Hin"ni*ate (?), Hin"ny (?) } v. i. [L. hinnire.] To neigh; to whinny. [Obs.]

Hin"ny, n.; pl. Hinnies (#). [L. hinnus, cf. Gr. &?;.] A hybrid between a stallion and an ass.

Hin"ny, n. A term of endearment; darling; -- corrupted from honey. [Prov. Eng.] Wright.

Hint (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Hinted; p. pr. & vb. n. Hinting.] [OE. henten, hinten, to seize, to catch, AS. hentan to pursue, take, seize; or Icel. ymta to mutter, ymtr a muttering, Dan. ymte to whisper. √36. Cf. Hent.] To bring to mind by a slight mention or remote allusion; to suggest in an indirect manner; as, to hint a suspicion.

Just hint a fault and hesitate dislike.

Pope.

Syn. -- To suggest; intimate; insinuate; imply.

Hint, v. i. To make an indirect reference, suggestion, or allusion; to allude vaguely to something.

We whisper, and hint, and chuckle.

Tennyson.

To hint at, to allude to lightly, indirectly, or cautiously.

Syn. -- To allude; refer; glance; touch.

Hint, n. A remote allusion; slight mention; intimation; insinuation; a suggestion or reminder, without a full declaration or explanation; also, an occasion or motive.

Our hint of woe Is common.