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nictitate

[nik-ti-teyt]
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verb (used without object), nic·ti·tat·ed, nic·ti·tat·ing.
  1. to wink.
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Also nic·tate.

Origin of nictitate

1815–25; < Medieval Latin nictitātus, past participle of nictitāre, frequentative of Latin nictāre to wink, frequentative of nicere to beckon; see -ate1
Related formsnic·ti·tant, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

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British Dictionary definitions for nictitate

nictitate

nictate (ˈnɪkteɪt)

verb
  1. technical words for blink (def. 1)
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Derived Formsnictitation or nictation, noun

Word Origin

C19: from Medieval Latin nictitāre to wink repeatedly, from Latin nictāre to wink, from nicere to beckon
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for nictitate

v.

"to wink," 1822, from Medieval Latin nictitatus, past participle of nictitare, frequentative of Latin nictare "wink, blink," related to nicere "to beckon," from PIE root *kneigwh- "to lean on, to bend" (the eyelids together). Related: Nictitated; nictitating (1713). Earlier form was nictate (v.), 1690s, from Latin nictare.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper