1. To signal or summon, as by nodding or waving. 2. To attract because of an inviting or enticing appearance: “a lovely, sunny country that seemed to beckon them on to the Emerald City” (L. Frank Baum).
INTRANSITIVE VERB:
1. To make a signaling or summoning gesture. 2. To be inviting or enticing.
NOUN:
A gesture of summons.
ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English bekenen, from Old English becnan, bcnan. See bh-1 in Appendix I.
b
k
n
ecnan, b
cnan. See bh
-1 in Appendix I.
