gnast Synonyms & Antonyms
Choose a meaning, then find a word that fits your sentence.
Gnast as a Noun
A spark; a dying or dead spark, as of a snuffed candle.
Gnast as a Verb
To gnash.
Word Forms & Grammar
gnast (plural gnasts)
gnast (third-person singular simple present gnasts, present participle gnasting, simple past and past participle gnasted)
Origin of Gnast
Origin 1: From Middle English gnast, knast, from Old English *gnāst (“spark”) (attested in fȳrgnāst (“spark of fire”)), from Proto-Germanic *gahnaistô (“spark”), from Proto-Germanic *ga- + Proto-Germanic *hnaistô (“spark”), perhaps from the ultimate (imitative) source of German knistern (“to crackle”).[1]
Origin 2: Cognate with German dialectal Ganster (“spark”), Danish gnist (“spark, sparkle”), Swedish gnista (“spark”), Icelandic gneisti, neisti (“spark”), German Gneis (“spark, gneiss”) (whence English gneiss).
Origin 3: From Middle English gnasten, gnaisten, from Old English *gnǣstan, from Proto-Germanic *gnaistijaną, causative of *gnīstijaną (“to grind”), from Proto-Indo-European *gʰneydh-, *gʰneyd- (“to gnaw, scratch, rub”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian knasterje (“to gnash”), German Low German gnatschen (“to knead, gnash”), German knastern (“to gnash”), Icelandic gnesta (“to crack”).
Quick Facts About Gnast
| Part of speech | noun, verb |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /-æst/ |
| Meaning | A spark; a dying or dead spark, as of a snuffed candle |
| Plural | gnasts |
| Verb forms | gnasts, gnasting, gnasted |
Frequently Asked Questions About Gnast
Is gnast a noun or a verb?
Gnast is mainly used as a noun, but it can also be used as a verb.
What is the plural of gnast?
The plural of gnast is gnasts.
What is the past tense of gnast?
The past tense of gnast is gnasted. The present participle is gnasting.