nictitate
[ nik-ti-teyt ]
/ ˈnɪk tɪˌteɪt /
verb (used without object), nic·ti·tat·ed, nic·ti·tat·ing.
to wink.
Also
nic·tate.
Origin of nictitate
1815–25; < Medieval Latin
nictitātus, past participle of
nictitāre, frequentative of Latin
nictāre to wink, frequentative of
nicere to beckon; see
-ate1
OTHER WORDS FROM nictitate
nic·ti·tant, adjectiveWords nearby nictitate
nicotinism,
nicotinize,
nicoya,
nicoya peninsula,
nictheroy,
nictitate,
nictitating membrane,
nictitation,
nicu,
nid-nod,
nida
British Dictionary definitions for nictitate
Derived forms of nictitate
nictitation or nictation, nounWord Origin for nictitate
C19: from Medieval Latin
nictitāre to wink repeatedly, from Latin
nictāre to wink, from
nicere to beckon