glister

G2L1I1S1T1E1R1
/ˈɡlɪstɚ/

verb

To gleam, glisten, or coruscate.

Similar
glitterglistenscintillationsparkle
OriginMiddle English glisteren ← Middle Dutch glisteren ← Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰley- →
Scrabble 8
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Meanings

glister1

verbglister (third-person singular simple present glisters, present participle glistering, simple past and past participle glistered)

present singular third person glisters · participle present glistering · participle past glistered · past glistered

  1. archaicintransitiveTo gleam, glisten, or coruscate.

    All that gliſters is not gold.

    c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene vii]
    2 more examples

    But, as the Phœnix on my Front doth gliſter, / Thou ſhalt the Finials of my Frame illuſtre.

    1608, [Guillaume de Salluste] Du Bartas, “[Du Bartas His First Week, or Birth of the World: […].] The Fift Daie of the First Week.”, in Josuah Sylvester, transl., Du Bartas His Deuine Weekes and Workes […], 3rd edition, London: […] Humfrey Lownes [and are to be sold by Arthur Iohnson […]], published 1611, →OCLC, page 140

    […] strangely she glistered in the sun / as she leaped forth in the sun […]

    1945, J. R. R. Tolkien, The Lay of Autrou and Itroun
nounglister (plural glisters)

plural glisters

  1. A brilliant flash; a glint.

glister2

nounglister (plural glisters)

plural glisters

  1. alternativeAlternative form of clyster.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounthe quality of shining with a bright reflected light

Similar
glitterglistenscintillationsparkle
Broader
brightness
Also see
glistenglitterscintillationsparkletwinkle

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

glister · verb, noun

  1. Proto-Indo-European*ǵʰley-
  2. Middle Dutchglisteren
  3. Middle Englishglisteren
  4. Englishglister

From Middle English glisteren, either borrowed from or related to Middle Low German and/or Middle Dutch glisteren; like a host of other Germanic words in gl- related to shining, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰley-.

More words from Middle English, Middle Dutch, Proto-Indo-European

Full word history & related roots →

glister · noun

Compare Old French glistere.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Russian блесте́ть
  • блесте́ть (blestétʹ)to gleam, glisten, or coruscate
Spanish brillar, relucir
  • brillarto gleam, glisten, or coruscate
  • relucirto gleam, glisten, or coruscate

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

Stiglergristle
Cite this entry
APA

glister. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/glister

MLA

“glister.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/glister. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “glister,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/glister.

Source: glister on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.