nictitate
pronunciation
How to pronounce nictitate in British English:
UK ['nɪktɪteɪt]
How to pronounce nictitate in American English:
US ['nɪktɪˌteɪt]
-
- Verb:
- briefly shut the eyes
Word Origin
- 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.