beckon

Etymology

From Middle English bekenen, beknen, becnen, beknien, from Old English bēacnian, bēcnian, bīecnan (“to signal; beckon”), from Proto-West Germanic *bauknōn, *bauknijan (“to signal”), from *baukn (“signal; beacon”). Cognate with Old Saxon bōknian, Old High German bouhnen, Old Norse bákna. More at beacon.

verb

1. (transitive, intransitive) To wave or nod to somebody with the intention to make the person come closer.
   His distant friends, he beckons near.
2. (transitive, intransitive) To seem attractive and inviting

noun

1. A sign made without words; a beck.
   At the first beckon. c. 1734, Henry St John, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke, A Dissertation on Parties
   He turn to me, make a beckon with the key in his hand. 2020, Abi Daré, The Girl With The Louding Voice, Sceptre, page 110
2. A children's game similar to hide and seek in which children who have been "caught" may escape if they see another hider beckon to them.