{Nictitating membrane} (Anat.), a thin membrane, found in many animals at the inner angle, or beneath the lower lid, of the eye, and capable of being drawn across the eyeball; the third eyelid; the haw. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
nictitate — (v.) to wink, 1822, from M.L. nictitatus, pp. of nictitare, frequentative of L. nictare wink, blink, related to NICERE (Cf. nicere) to beckon, from PIE root *kneigwh to lean on, to bend (the eyelids together). Related: Nictitated; nictitating… … Etymology dictionary
nictitate — [nik′tə tāt΄] vi. nictitated, nictitating [< ML nictitatus, pp. of nictitare, freq. < L nictare, to wink: see connive] to wink or blink rapidly, as birds and other animals with a nictitating membrane do nictitation n … English World dictionary
Nictitate — To wink. Nictitating spasm is spasm of the eyelid with continuous winking. Nictitate and the older verb nictate both come from the Latin word for winking, nictare. * * * To wink. [see nictitation] * * * nic·ti·tate nik tə .tāt vi, tat·ed; tat·ing … Medical dictionary
nictitate — intransitive verb ( tated; tating) Etymology: alteration of nictate to wink, from Latin nictatus, past participle of nictare more at connive Date: 1713 wink … New Collegiate Dictionary
nictitate — nictitant, adj. /nik ti tayt /, v.i., nictitated, nictitating. to wink. Also, nictate. [1815 25; < ML nictitatus, ptp. of nictitare, freq. of L nictare to wink, freq. of nicere to beckon; see ATE1] * * * … Universalium
nictitate — verb /ˈnɪktɪteɪt/ to wink or blink See Also: nictitation, nictitating membrane … Wiktionary
nictitate — (Roget s Thesaurus II) verb To open and close the eyes rapidly: bat1, blink, nictate, twinkle, wink. See REPETITION, SEE … English dictionary for students
nictitate — nɪktɪteɪt v. hint; wink; blink … English contemporary dictionary
nictitate — v wink, blink, Inf. bat or bat one s eyes, flutter one s eyelashes … A Note on the Style of the synonym finder
nictitate — nic·ti·tate … English syllables
