Kinayah conveys an associated meaning while allowing the original meaning to remain possible. By the kind of implied target, it is classified as attribute, attribution or referent. By the length and clarity of the inference, we distinguish talwih, ramz, and ima/isharah. In ta‘rid, context discloses an indirect target.
The practical rule is to establish the intended meaning and its basis before choosing a label. The following section turns to *ilm al-badi‘*, the study of devices that enhance eloquence through meaning and wording.