INNUENDO innuere, to nod at, to hint at; meaning. The word was used when pleadings were in Latin, and has been translated by "meaning").
In Pleading. A clause in a declaration, indictment, or other pleading containing an averment which is explanatory of some pre ceding word or statement.
It derives its name from the leading word by which it was always introduced when pleadings were in Latin. It is mostly used in actions of slander, and is then said to be a subordinate aver ment, connecting particular parts of the publica tion with what has gone before, in order to eluci date the defendant's meaning more fully. 1 Star kie, Sland. 431.
2. Its object is to explain the defendant's meaning by reference to previous matter. See COLLOQUIUM. It may be used to point to the plaintiff as the person intended in the defendant's statement. It may show that a general imputation of crime is intended to apply to the plaintiff, Heard, Sland..i 226; 1 Hou. L. Cas. 637; 2 Hill, N.Y. 282; but it cannot be allowed to give a new sense to words where there is no such charge. 8 Q. B. 825; 7 C. B. 280.
3. It may point to the injurious and IlOtionable meaning, where the words corn filained of are susceptible of two meanings, .8 Q. B. 841 ; Moore & S. 727, and generally explain the preceding matter, 1 Dowl. N. B. '602; 7 C. B. 251; 15 id. 360 ; 1 Mees. & W. Exch. 245.; 5 Bingh. 17; 10 id. 250; 12 Ad.
& E. 317; but cannot enlarge and point the ,effeot of language • beyond its natural and common meaning in its usual acceptation, Heard, Sland. 219; Mete. Yelv. 22; 2 Salk. 513; 1 Ld. Raym. 256 ; 2 Cowp. 688 ; 4 Perr. & D. 161 ; 6 Barnew. & C. 154; 4 Nev. & M. 841 ; 4 Dowl. 703; 9 Ad. & E. 282; 12 id. 719; 15 Pick. Mass. 335, unless con nected with the proper introductory aver ments. 1 Crompt. & J. Exch. 143; 1 Ad. & E. 554 ; 9 id. 282, 286, •n. ; 1 C. B. 728 ; 6 id. 239 ; 1 Saund. 242; 2 Pick. Mass. 320; 13 id. 198 ; 15 id. 321; 16 id. 1; 11 Mete. Mass. 473 ; 8 N. H. 246; 12 Vt. 51; I Binn. Penn. 537; :5 id. 218; 11 Serg. & R. Penn. 343; 5 Johns. N. Y. 211. These introductory averments need not be in the same count. 2 Wile. 114; 2 Pick. Mass. 329.
4. For the innuendo in case of an ironical libel, see 7 Dowl. 210; 4 Mees. & W. Exch. 446.
If not warranted by preceding allegations, it may be rejected as superfluous, Heard, Sland. 225; but only where it is bad and useless,—not where it is good but unsupported by evidence, even though the words would be actionable without an innuendo. 3 Hou. L. Cas. 395; 1 Crompt. & M. Etch. 675; 1 Ad. & E. 558; 2 Bingh. N. c. 402; 4 Barnew. & C. 655 ; 3 Campb. 461 ; 9 East, 93.; Croke Car. 512; Croke Eliz. 609.