connotation

clue, cue, hint, implication, indication, inkling, intimation, suggestion

content, denotation, drift, import, intent, intention, meaning, purport, sense, significance, signification

message, tenor, theme

bottom, essence, essentiality, nature, soul, spirit, stuff

acceptance, acceptation, definition

burden, crux, gist

core, heart, kernel, marrow, nub, nucleus, pith, point, quick

matter, motif, motive, question, subject, topic