WINK, G. Wink and wince are radically one word.
1. To shut the eyes to close the eyelids.
They are not blind, but they wink.
2. To close and open the eyelids.
3. To give a hint by a motion of the eyelids.
Wink at the footman to leave him without a plate.
4. To close the eyelids and exclude the light.
Or wink as cowards and afraid.
5. To be dim as a winking light.
To wink at, to connive at to seem not to see to tolerate to overlook, as something not perfectly agreeable as, to wink at faults.
WINK, n.
1. The act of closing the eyelids. I lay awake, and could not sleep a wink.
I could eclipse and cloud them with a wink.
2. A hint given by shutting the eye with a significant cast.