SuaviloquyToday’s word

glimmer

Glimmer, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Glimmered; p. pr. & vb. n. Glimmering.]

Etymology: [Akin to G. glimmer a faint, trembling light, mica, glimmern to glimmer, glimmen to shine faintly, glow, Sw. glimma, Dan. glimre, D. glimmen, glimpen. See Gleam a ray, and cf. Glimpse.]

To give feeble or scattered rays of light; to shine faintly; to show a faint, unsteady light; as, the glimmering dawn; a glimmering lamp. The west yet glimmers with some streaks of day. Shak.

Syn. -- To gleam; to glitter. See Gleam, Flash.

1 other Webster entry under this spelling

Glimmer, n.

1. A faint, unsteady light; feeble, scattered rays of light; also, a gleam. Gloss of satin and glimmer of pearls. Tennyson.

2. Mica. See Mica. Woodsward. Glimmer gowk, an owl. [Prov. Eng.] Tennyson.

Shades of meaning

Fernald has no entry of its own for glimmer; he lists it under light.

Where he writes about it:

Glimmer, glitter, and shimmer denote wavering light. — from light
We speak of the glimmer of distant lamps through the mist; of the shimmer of waves in sunlight or moonlight. — from light

Synonyms

lightblazeflameflareflashflickerglaregleamgleamingglisteningglisteringglitterglowilluminationincandescencelusterscintillationsheenshimmershineshiningsparkletwinkletwinkling

Antonyms

blacknessdarkdarknessdimnessduskgloomgloominessobscurityshadeshadow

etymologyWebster’s online