Lull
/lʌl/noun
To calm or soothe into sleep, or a temporary period of calm.
Did you know?The word’s origin is probably imitative—built from soothing, repetitive sounds used to calm infants or sing someone to sleep, which is why it feels almost hypnotic when spoken.
Etymological Timeline
Middle English
English
lullen
“to sing softly, soothe, or rock to sleep”
Middle English
English
lull
“a soft, murmuring sound or a gentle calm”
Early Modern English
English
lull
“to soothe into sleep; to quiet or reduce activity”
Modern English
English
lull
“to calm, soothe, or cause a temporary suspension of activity”