Nictate
/ˈnɪk.teɪt/noun
To blink or wink, especially repeatedly or involuntarily.
Did you know?Nictate comes from Latin *nictāre*, an intensive form related to *nictāre*/*nictō* “to blink,” and it’s part of the same ancient eye-language that gave English *nictation* and the scientific study of blinking.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*neik-
“to wink, blink, or make a quick eye movement”
Latin
Latin
nictāre
“to blink repeatedly; to twinkle”
Late Latin
Latin
nictātus
“a blinking or winking motion”
16th Century
English
nictate
“to blink or wink”
Modern English
English
nictate
“to blink; to wink, especially repeatedly”