Twin"kle (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Twinkled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Twinkling (?).] [OE. twinklen, AS. twinclian; akin to OE. twinken to blink, wink, G. zwinken, zwinkern, and perhaps to E. twitch.]

1.

To open and shut the eye rapidly; to blink; to wink.

The owl fell a moping and twinkling. L' Estrange.

2.

To shine with an intermitted or a broken, quavering light; to flash at intervals; to sparkle; to scintillate.

These stars not twinkle when viewed through telescopes that have large apertures. Sir I. Newton.

The western sky twinkled with stars. Sir W. Scott.

 

© Webster 1913.


Twin"kle (?), n.

1.

A closing or opening, or a quick motion, of the eye; a wink or sparkle of the eye.

Suddenly, with twinkle of her eye, The damsel broke his misintended dart. Spenser.

2.

A brief flash or gleam, esp. when rapidly repeated.

3.

The time of a wink; a twinkling.

Dryden.

 

© Webster 1913.

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