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nictitate

 - 4 dictionary results

nic⋅ti⋅tate

  [nik-ti-teyt]
Use nictitate in a Sentence
–verb (used without object), -tat⋅ed, -tat⋅ing.
to wink.
Also, nictate.

Origin:
1815–25; < ML nictitātus, ptp. of nictitāre, freq. of L nictāre to wink, freq. of nicere to beckon; see -ate 1

Related forms:
nic⋅ti⋅tant, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To nictitate
nic·ti·tate   (nĭk'tĭ-tāt')   
intr.v.   nic·ti·tat·ed also nic·tat·ed, nic·ti·tat·ing also nic·tat·ing, nic·ti·tates also nic·tates
To wink. See Synonyms at blink.

[Medieval Latin nictitāre, nictitāt-, frequentative of Latin nictāre.]
nic'ti·ta'tion n.
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

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, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: nic·ti·tate
Pronunciation: 'nik-t&-"tAt
Function: intransitive verb
Inflected Forms: -tat·ed; -tat·ing
: WINK
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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