To beckon is to signal someone to come closer or follow, usually with a hand or head movement. It can also mean to attract or invite in a tempting way.
“Beckon” comes from Old English “beacnian,” meaning to make a sign or signal, related to “beacon.” Both come from a Germanic root about showing or signaling from a distance.
“Beckon” and “beacon” are cousins: one is a moving signal, the other a standing light. That family link helps you feel how a tiny hand movement can be as powerful a guide as a lighthouse in the dark.
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