Private hint (8)
I believe the answer is:
intimate
I believe this is a double definition.
'private' is the first definition.
(I know that private can be written as intimate)
'hint' is the second definition.
(I know that intimate is a type of hint)
(Other definitions for intimate that I've seen before include "state" , "cosy" , "Familiar; imply" , "pal" , "Make known" .)