bait
UK[beɪt]US[beɪt]
n
Food put on a hook or in a trap to attract and catch fish or animals.
n
Something used to attract or tempt someone, especially to do something wrong or dangerous.
v
To put bait on a hook or in a trap.
v
To deliberately annoy or try to make someone angry, especially by teasing or criticizing them.
Etymology
The word "bait" entered Middle English from the Old Norse "beita," meaning "to cause to bite" or "food." This Norse term is related to the Old English "bǣtan," sharing a common Germanic root. The core concept is that of provoking or enticing an animal, specifically to bite, which directly informs the modern dual meanings of food for catching animals and a lure for provoking a reaction. This etymological journey from a concrete action ("to bite") to an abstract means of entrapment or provocation illustrates a classic semantic shift grounded in the logic of hunting and trapping.
Analysis
This is a simplex word of Old Norse origin. The entire word functions as a single, unanalyzable morpheme in modern English.
Examples
The fisherman used a worm as bait.
The offer of free software was just bait to get people's personal information.
He ignored the other players' attempts to bait him into an argument.