Nearby Words
verb (used without object), nic·ti·tat·ed, nic·ti·tat·ing.
to wink.
Also, nic·tate.
Origin:
1815–25; < Medieval Latin nictitātus, past participle of nictitāre, frequentative of Latin nictāre to wink, frequentative of nicere to beckon; see -ate1
1815–25; < Medieval Latin nictitātus, past participle of nictitāre, frequentative of Latin nictāre to wink, frequentative of nicere to beckon; see -ate1
Related forms
nic·ti·tant, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Nictitate
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is subtilize. Does it mean:
| to introduce subtleties into or argue subtly about. |
| to steal or take dishonestly (money, esp. public funds, or property entrusted to one's care); embezzle. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
| nictitate or nictate (ˈnɪktɪˌteɪt, ˈnɪkteɪt) | |
| —vb | |
| technical words for blink | |
| [C19: from Medieval Latin nictitāre to wink repeatedly, from Latin nictāre to wink, from nicere to beckon] | |
| nictate or nictate | |
| —vb | |
| [C19: from Medieval Latin nictitāre to wink repeatedly, from Latin nictāre to wink, from nicere to beckon] | |
| nicti'tation or nictate | |
| —n | |
| nic'tation or nictate | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
nictitate
"to wink," 1822, from M.L. nictitatus, pp. of nictitare, freq. of L. nictare "wink, blink," related to second element in connive (q.v.).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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