pull, pinch; contort
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Vellicate Definition from Language, Idioms & Slang Dictionaries & Glossaries
(v. t.)
To twitch; to cause to twitch convulsively.
To twitch; to cause to twitch convulsively.
(v. i.)
To move spasmodically; to twitch; as, a nerve vellicates.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), edited by Noah Porter. AboutTo move spasmodically; to twitch; as, a nerve vellicates.
vellicate
\vel"li*cate\ (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. vellicated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. vellicating.] [l. vellicatus, p. p. of vellicare to twitch, fr. vellere to pluck, pull.] to twitch; to cause to twitch convulsively. convulsions, arising from something vellicating a nerve in its extremity, are not very dangerous.
vellicate
\vel"li*cate\, v. i. to move spasmodically; to twitch; as, a nerve vellicates.
vellicate
v : squeeze tightly between the fingers; "he pinched her behind"; "she squeezed the bottle" [syn: pinch, squeeze, twinge, tweet, nip, twitch]
Verb
1. touch (a body part) lightly so as to excite the surface nerves and cause uneasiness, laughter, or spasmodic movements
(synonym) tickle, titillate
(hypernym) itch
(derivation) twitch, twitching, vellication
2. irritate as if by a nip, pinch, or tear; "smooth surfaces can vellicate the teeth"; "the pain is as if sharp points pinch your back"
(synonym) pinch
(hypernym) irritate
