shimmer
UK: ˈʃɪmə | US: ˈʃɪmər
vi. to shine with a soft, wavering light
n. a soft, flickering light
shimmer = shim<gleam> + er<verb suffix>
- shim (from Middle English schimeren, meaning "to gleam or glisten")
- er (a frequentative or verb-forming suffix in English, indicating repeated or continuous action)
Etymology Origin:
The word "shimmer" traces back to Middle English schimeren, derived from Old English scimerian, meaning "to glitter or shine faintly." It is related to the Proto-Germanic skim-, which conveys the idea of a flickering or wavering light. The suffix -er adds a sense of ongoing or repetitive action, perfectly capturing the delicate, fluctuating quality of a shimmering light.
The lake shimmered under the moonlight.
Her dress shimmered with sequins as she danced.
A faint shimmer of heat rose from the desert sand.
The stars shimmer in the night sky.
The oil spill created an eerie shimmer on the water's surface.