lure
UK[lʊə(r)]US[lʊr]
v
To persuade or attract someone or something to go somewhere or to do something by offering something desirable.
n
Something used to attract or tempt; a bait or decoy.
n
The attractive qualities of something.
Etymology
The word 'lure' entered English in the late 14th century from the Old French 'loirre', 'leurre', meaning a decoy or bait, particularly the feathered device used by falconers to recall their hawks. The Old French term is believed to have been borrowed from a Germanic language, likely Frankish 'lōþr' or Old High German 'luoder', both meaning 'bait'. This Germanic root is connected to the idea of an enticement. The semantic journey is direct and vivid: from a physical object used to attract a bird of prey back to its handler, the meaning broadened to encompass any person, thing, or quality that acts as a powerful attraction or temptation.
Analysis
The entire word 'lure' functions as a simplex morpheme. It is a loanword from Old French, where it had the meaning of a decoy or bait, especially a device used in falconry. Its ultimate origin is from a Germanic source.
Examples
The company used high salaries to lure experienced engineers away from their competitors.
The fisherman carefully selected a shiny new lure from his tackle box.
Many young people feel the lure of the big city, with its promise of excitement and opportunity.