Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “glimpse” come from?

Glimpse comes from Middle English glimsen, of unknown origin and ultimate etymology.

glimpse (English): A brief look, glance, or peek; A sudden flash; A...

Definitions

  1. A brief look, glance, or peek; A sudden flash; A...

Ancestry of “glimpse”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishglimse—
2Middle Englishglimsento glisten, be dazzling, glance with the eyes

Words derived from “glimpse”

  • foreglimpse
  • glimpsable
  • glimpser
  • unglimpsable
Every word from Middle English glimsen →