Are 'glimpse' and 'glance' interchangeable as verbs?
I do realise we tend to use glance at something and to catch a glimpse of, but many dictionaries, such as Merriam-Webster, suggest that the latter can also function as a verb. When it does, does it have the meaning as the former?
intransitive verb
- archaic : glimmer
- : to look briefly · glimpsed at the letter and then threw it aside
transitive verb : to get a brief look at · glimpsed him as he sped by in his car
(https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/glimpse)
I feel this definition suggests it indirectly as well: http://www.english-for-students.com/difference-between-glimpse-and-glance.html
What do you think?
They both carry the meaning of brevity, but for different, perhaps opposite, reasons.
"I strained and stared, and finally glimpsed my hero through the throng."
Here the speaker is trying nonstop to see. The brief viewing was brief because of external circumstances -- the crowd parting for a moment.
"I sensed I was being followed, and a glance in the rear view mirror confirmed it."
Here the speaker chose to look briefly. Again the viewing was brief, but for reasons wholly under the control of the one looking.
No glimpse and glance are not interchangeable as verbs, but they share close similarity in meaning.
Glimpse
As you can see from the following definitions glimpse means to see (an object) briefly
OLD
1) See or perceive briefly or partially.
"he glimpsed a figure standing in the shade".
See or perceive briefly.
Cambridge
To see something or someone for a very short time or only partly:
"We glimpsed the ruined abbey from the windows of the train."
See... for a very short time
M-W Learner's Dictionary
To look at or see (something or someone) for a very short time.
"We glimpsed him through the window as his car sped past."
— sometimes used figuratively
"The book allows us to glimpse the future of the computer industry."
To look at... for a very short time
Etymology (etymonline):
glimpse (v.)
...From mid-15c. as "to glance with the eyes;" from 1779 as "catch a quick view." Related: Glimpsed; glimpsing.
Catch a quick view.
Glance
Glance also carries the meaning of spying something briefly :
OLD
1) No object, with adverbial of direction Take a brief or hurried look.
"Ginny glanced at her watch"
A brief... look.
Cambridge
1) [ I usually + adv/prep ] to give a quick short look:
She glanced around/round the room to see who was there. He glanced up from his book as I passed. Could you glance over/through this letter and see if it's alright?
A quick short look.
M-W Learner's Dictionary
1) always followed by an adverb or preposition : to look at someone or something very quickly
"Glancing down she noticed her shoe was untied".
"I glanced at my watch".
"He sat quietly, glancing through a magazine."
"She glanced up from her book when he entered the room."
To look at very quickly.
Etymology (Etymonline)
...Sense of "look quickly" (first recorded 1580s) probably was by influence of Middle English glenten "look askance" (see glint (v.)), which also could account for the -n-. Related: Glanced; glancing.
Look quickly.
The two words then as you can see from the above definitions are virtually synonymous.
However there are two key differences.
1)
Glimpse takes an object whereas glance does not. Glance is used with the adverbial of direction.
You can't glance a sunset you glance towards a sunset (i.e. in the direction of the sunset), but you can glimpse a sunset.
This is the reason the words are not interchangeable as verbs.
2)
The second difference is expressed in the definitions of glimpse from OLD and Cambridge.
If you check these definitions above you will see there is an extra meaning attached in both definitions.
OLD - "See.... partially". Cambridge - "See... only partly".
If you want to express the idea that someone caught sight of an object glimpse would be the natural choice. If you want to express that someone looked in the direction of an object briefly glance is the natural choice.
If you want to express the idea that the brief look meant they only partially saw the object, then glimpse is definitely the better word to use!
Edit:
From commentary to this answer and the original question, it is clear that many users feel there is a distinction with regards the intention of the person looking when they glimpse or glance.
With glance carrying the quality of intention, and glimpse being an unintentional act. While I personally don't agree with this view, given the number of people here that do, I think it would be remiss of me not to acknowledge the viewpoint here in this answer.