nictitate

C2+ Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ˈnɪktɪˌteɪt/ UK /ˈnɪktɪteɪt/ See IPA manual

verb

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,... blink wink flicker

Word family

Derived forms nictitatingnictitation

Related forms nictate

Etymology

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

# 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

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