Glimpse

Part of speech: noun, verb

Pronunciation: /ɡlɪm(p)s/

Definitions

1. A brief or incomplete view of something, typically lasting only a moment
2. A fleeting sight that allows one to perceive something momentarily or an incomplete observation of a subject or situation
3. A short and often illuminating view that provides a partial insight into an event or object without full clarity

Etymology: The word began life as a light word. Its root, reconstructed as "ǵʰley-" in Proto-Indo-European, meant "to shine," and it passed through Proto-Germanic into Middle English as "glimsen," meaning to dazzle, glisten, or glance with the eyes. The sense was of light catching the eye rather than of seeing something clearly. Glimpse is a doublet of "glimmer," which descends from the same ancestor, so the two words are close relatives that took different paths into English. The verb "glimse" was an older form, and "glimpse" grew out of it as the verb came to describe a quick, partial sighting. The noun was then formed from the verb, so the sense of a brief passing view came after the sense of a flash of light. Cognates in Dutch, German, and Low German preserve the older shimmering meaning, such as Dutch "glinsteren" for to glint or sparkle.

Synonyms: sight, peek, glance

Antonyms: stare, gaze