Lure
/lʊr/noun
To attract or entice someone into a particular situation or action.
Did you know?The word 'lure' has ties to the Old French 'leure', which referred to a bait or a trap, suggesting manipulation at the heart of attraction.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*lewk-
“To entice or allure, suggesting a sense of brightness or light.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
λῦματα (lūmata)
“To release or set free, often associated with the idea of drawing someone in.”
Old French
Old French
leure
“A bait or a trap, emphasizing the deceptive nature of attraction.”
Middle English
Middle English
lure
“To entice or attract, retaining the idea of manipulation.”
Modern English
English
lure
“To draw in or attract, often with an implication of deception or danger.”