Nictate
/nɪkˈteɪt/ verb
verb ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
Verb
- 1 To wink or blink; (of certain animals) to close the nictating membrane. intransitive
"Indignantly interrogated as to whether he himself believed or exercised this abhominable and perabsurd superstition, he very gravely nictated his dexter eyelid. And I nictated mine. And we both laughed."
- 2 briefly shut the eyes wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
More examples"Indignantly interrogated as to whether he himself believed or exercised this abhominable and perabsurd superstition, he very gravely nictated his dexter eyelid. And I nictated mine. And we both laughed."
Etymology
First attested in 1755; borrowed from Latin nictātus, perfect passive participle of nictō (“to wink, blink”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix).