nictitate C2+ Topic:Actions & Processes US /ˈnɪktɪˌteɪt/ UK /ˈnɪktɪteɪt/ See IPA manual Meanings 1 verb to wink or blink, especially with a nictitating membrane The lizard seemed to nictitate as a thin membrane swept across its eye. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 verb · to wink or blink,... blinkwinkflicker Word family Derived forms nictitatingnictitation Related forms nictate Etymology AI details From Medieval Latin nictitatus, past participle of nictitare ('to wink repeatedly'), frequentative of Latin nictare ('to wink'). nictitare Latin nictare Latin View etymology graph -> Topics Actions & Processes Word Formation & Derivatives External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # nictitate **Type:** Word **Level:** C2+ **Part of speech:** verb **IPA (US):** /ˈnɪktɪˌteɪt/ **IPA (UK):** /ˈnɪktɪteɪt/ ## Meanings 1. to wink or blink, especially with a nictitating membrane ## Examples - The lizard seemed to nictitate as a thin membrane swept across its eye. ## Synonyms - blink - wink - flicker ## Derived Forms - nictitating - nictitation ## Related Forms - nictate ## Roots and Affixes - Root: nictitare - Root: nictare ## Etymology From Medieval Latin nictitatus, past participle of nictitare ('to wink repeatedly'), frequentative of Latin nictare ('to wink'). ## AI Etymology Nictitate comes from Medieval Latin nictitatus, past participle of nictitare ('to wink repeatedly'), frequentative of Latin nictare ('to wink'). The form preserves a compact historical development in which the older wording and the present sense remain closely connected. As a verb, it means "to wink or blink, especially with a nictitating membrane", so the modern sense keeps the older action or relation visible. Relevant historical forms include Latin nictitare and Latin nictare. Derivative forms include nictitating, nictitation; related words include nictate. ## Topics - Actions & Processes - Word Formation & Derivatives markdown