Glistening
/ˈɡlɪs.ənɪŋ/noun
Shining with a soft, sparkling light, often as if wet.
Did you know?Glisten is an old Germanic word tied to the same ancient root as glitter and gleam, so English has long treated light like something that can flicker, shimmer, and almost cast a charm.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ghel-
“to shine, gleam, or be yellow-green”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*glisnōną
“to shine or glitter”
Old English
OE
glisnian
“to shine, glitter”
Middle English
ME
glistnen
“to shine, sparkle”
Modern English
English
glistening
“shining with a soft, sparkling light”