Intimacy
Etymology
From Latin intimus "innermost," the superlative of the preposition intra "within" — so the intimate is what lies furthest inside. The verb intimare meant "to make known, impress," carrying the sense of bringing something from the innermost out into shared view.
noun · /IN-tuh-muh-see/
Closeness built on being deeply known by another person.
What it names
A handle for the vulnerable core of connection — being seen at the innermost level — which people routinely confuse with mere physical closeness or long acquaintance.
Example
They had shared a bed for a decade but only reached real intimacy the year they both finally started telling the truth.
Related idea
Distinct from familiarity: familiarity is the ease of long exposure — you know someone’s habits — while intimacy is being admitted to what is innermost. You can be deeply familiar with a colleague and never intimate, and intimate with someone you have known only briefly.