nictitate

[ nik-ti-teyt ]

verb (used without object)

, nic·ti·tat·ed, nic·ti·tat·ing.

1. a variant of nictate ( def ).

nictitate

/ ˈnɪkteɪt; ˈnɪktɪˌteɪt /

verb

1. technical words for blink

Derived Forms

• ˌnictiˈtation, noun

Other Words From

• nic·ti·tant adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of nictitate¹

First recorded in 1815–25; from Medieval Latin nictitātus, past participle of nictitāre, frequentative of nictāre nictate

Word History and Origins

Origin of nictitate¹

C19: from Medieval Latin nictitāre to wink repeatedly, from Latin nictāre to wink, from nicere to beckon