Hints from close friends (9)

I believe the answer is:

intimates

I believe this is a double definition.

'hints' is the first definition.
(intimating is a kind of hinting)

'close friends' is the second definition.
(I've seen this before)

'from' is the link.

(Another definition for intimates that I've seen is " Hints - close friends".)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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