Skip to the word

Added 9 October 2026

nictate

/nɪkˈteɪt/ verb

Latin root: nictātus First recorded: 1755 Wiktionary

verb Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about nictate at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Briefly shut the eyes.
The TV announcer never seems to blink

Origin

First attested in 1755; borrowed from Latin nictātus, perfect passive participle of nictō (“to wink, blink”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

Back to today's word