vellicate

[ vel-i-keyt ]

verb (used with object)

, vel·li·cat·ed, vel·li·cat·ing.

1. to pluck; twitch.
2. to nip, pinch, or the like.
3. to cause to twitch.

verb (used without object)

, vel·li·cat·ed, vel·li·cat·ing.

1. to move with spasmodic convulsions; twitch.

vellicate

/ ˈvɛlɪˌkeɪt /

verb

1. rare.
   to twitch, pluck, or pinch

Derived Forms

• ˌvelliˈcation, noun
• ˈvellicative, adjective

Other Words From

• velli·cation noun
• velli·cative adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of vellicate¹

1595–1605; < Latin vellicātus, past participle of vellicāre, frequentative of vellere to pull, twitch; -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of vellicate¹

C17: from Latin vellicāre, from vellere to tear off

Example Sentences

Thus, if you vellicate the throat with a feather, nausea is produced; if you wound it with a penknife, pain is induced, but not sickness.

From Project Gutenberg

Xenocles affirmed, that ripe fruit had usually a pleasing, vellicating sapor, and thereby provoked the appetite better than sauces or sweetmeats; for sick men of a vitiated stomach usually recover it by eating fruit.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bounce
• bump
• fling
• flop
• hurtle
• jolt
• lug
• snatch
• thrust
• tug
• twitch
• wiggle
• wrench
• wriggle
• wring
• yank