shimmer
[shim-er]
- to shine with or reflect a subdued, tremulous light; gleam faintly.
- to appear to quiver or vibrate in faint light or while reflecting heat waves.
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- a subdued, tremulous light or gleam.
- a quivering or vibrating motion or image as produced by reflecting faint light or heat waves.
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Origin of shimmer
before 1100; Middle English schimeren, s(c)hemeren, Old English scimrian; cognate with Dutch schemeren, German schimmern to glisten
Synonyms
See more synonyms for shimmer on Thesaurus.com1. glimmer. See glisten.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for shimmering
Contemporary Examples
This season was no different, as he sent both men and women down the runway in shimmering head-to-toe looks.
When Hansberry wrote A Raisin in the Sun, America was shimmering with the stirrings of social agitation.
The last to take the runway was a shimmering gold, high-low gown with two elbow length cuffs, a thick choker, and heeled mules.
It was just two weeks ago, a little more, that this was going to be a day of shimmering triumph.
A keen sailor, I was envious of the crew on board having the chance to sail on these stunning, shimmering blue waters.
Historical Examples
She was wearing a simple grey dress of some shimmering material.
Casanova's HomecomingArthur Schnitzler
Now, once more, every eye was fixed on the shimmering skyline.
The Law-BreakersRidgwell Cullum
You look down at yourself, at the shimmering garment that you found waiting for you.
Hall of MirrorsFredric Brown
The web of shimmering wires descended, cupping him completely.
The Affair of the BrainsAnthony Gilmore
He looked a quivering, shimmering, changeful creature, the color of golden-rod.
Tales of FishesZane Grey
shimmer
- (intr) to shine with a glistening or tremulous light
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- a faint, glistening, or tremulous light
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Word Origin
Old English scimerian; related to Middle Low German schēmeren to grow dark, Old Norse skimi brightness
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 shimmering
shimmer
v.
Old English scimerian "to glitter, shimmer, glisten, shine," related to (perhaps a frequentative of) scimian "to shine," from Proto-Germanic *skim- (cf. Swedish skimra, Dutch schemeren "to glitter," German schimmern), from PIE root *skai- "to gleam, to shine" (see shine (v.). Related: Shimmered; shimmering.
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shimmer
n.
"a tremulous light," 1821, from shimmer (v.).
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper