glimmer
UK: ˈɡlɪmə | US: ˈɡlɪmər
n. a faint or wavering light
v. to shine faintly or intermittently
glimmer = glim<shine faintly> + er<verb suffix or agent noun>
- glim: From Middle English glimmen (to shine faintly), related to Old English glīm (a spark or gleam).
- er: A suffix forming agent nouns (e.g., "runner") or frequentative verbs (e.g., "flicker").
Etymology Origin:
The word glimmer traces back to Proto-Germanic glīm-, meaning "to shine weakly." It evolved through Old English and Middle English, retaining its core sense of faint light. The suffix -er adds a sense of repetition or agency, emphasizing the intermittent or delicate nature of the light. The word’s structure reflects its semantic essence—a soft, flickering glow.
The candle’s glimmer was barely visible in the dark room.
Fireflies glimmered in the summer night.
A faint glimmer of hope kept her going.
The stars glimmered through the thin clouds.
The lake glimmered under the moonlight.