a speech act whose purpose is not explicit from the form or content of the utterance but must be inferred. For example, the apparent observation It’s so cold in here! may well be intended as a request that someone close the window. See conversational inference; form–function distinction; implicature.
n. an inflammation of the pancreas, marked by severe abdominal pain and caused by biliary tract disorders (e.g., gallstones), alcoholism, viral infection, or reactions to certain drugs (e.g., some antipsychotic agents).