Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “glisten” come from?

Glisten comes from Middle English glistnen, from Old English glisnian, from Proto-West Germanic glisnōn, from Proto-Germanic glisnōną, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots meaning to shine or gleam.

glisten (English): To reflect light with a glittering luster; to...

Definitions

  1. To reflect light with a glittering luster; to...

Ancestry of “glisten”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishglisnen—
2Old Englishglisnianto glisten; to glitter
3Proto-West Germanicglisnōn—
4Proto-Germanicglisnōną—
5Proto-Germanic-ōnąCreates denominative verbs from nouns; Creates...
6Proto-Indo-European-eh₂yétiCreates iterative/ frequentative/ intensive...
7Proto-Indo-European-yétiCreates intransitive, often deponent,...
8Proto-Indo-Europeanyé-—
9Chichewaiyehe, she

Words derived from “glisten”

  • glistening
  • glisteningly
  • glisteny
  • glist
  • glisteneth
  • beglisten
Every word from Chichewa iye →