Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “nictate” come from?

nictate (English) comes from Latin nictatus, from Latin nicto, from Proto-Indo-European kneygʷʰ- — to tend; incline; lean toward; bend; to bend,...

nictate (English): To wink or blink; to close the nictating...

Definitions

  1. To wink or blink; to close the nictating...

Ancestry of “nictate”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinnictatusblinked, having been blinked; winked, having been...
2LatinnictoI blink; I wink, signal with the eyes; I flash
3Proto-Indo-Europeankneygʷʰ-to tend; incline; lean toward; bend; to bend,...

Words derived from “nictate”

  • nictation
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kneygʷʰ- →