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glimmer

 - 3 dictionary results

glim⋅mer

[glim-er]
–noun
1. a faint or unsteady light; gleam.
2. a dim perception; inkling.
–verb (used without object)
3. to shine faintly or unsteadily; twinkle, shimmer, or flicker.
4. to appear faintly or dimly.

Origin:
1300–50; ME glimeren to gleam; c. G glimmern; cf. OE gleomu splendor


1. See gleam.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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glim·mer   (glĭm'ər)   
n.  
  1. A dim or intermittent flicker or flash of light.

  2. A faint manifestation or indication; a trace: a glimmer of understanding.

intr.v.   glim·mered, glim·mer·ing, glim·mers
  1. To emit a dim, intermittent light: "The ocean glimmered on her left like an iridescent pewter bowl" (Elizabeth Adler). See Synonyms at flash.

  2. To be reflected in dim, intermittent flashes: "Starlight glimmered on rusty metal" (David Drake).

  3. To appear faintly or indistinctly: Hope still glimmered in our minds.


[Middle English glimeren, to glitter, glimmer; see ghel-2 in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

glimmer 
c.1330, frequentative of P.Gmc. *glim-, root of O.E. glæm "brightness" (see gleam). Originally "shine brightly," sense shifted 15c. to "shine faintly."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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