Middle English Dictionary Entry
lurken v.
Entry Info
| Forms | lurken v. Also lurk(e, lorke(n. |
| Etymology | ON; cp. Norw. & Swed. dial. lurka. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To hide, be in hiding, lie hidden; be latent; (b) to lie in ambush; (c) to cower, skulk, keep out of sight; (d) to lie comfortably; (e) to go stealthily or cautiously, go under cover; also, crawl; (f) ?in surnames.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)68 : Hwan he felede hise foos, He made hem lurken, and crepen in wros.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Josh.10.17,22,27 : Þer weryn foundyn fyfe kyngys lorkynge [WB(2): hid; L lantentes] in þe spelunke of þe cite..& Iosue comaundede..bryngeþ to me fyfe kyngys þat in hit lorkyn [WB(2): ben hid; L latitant]..þrewyn hem in to þe spelunke in þe whiche þei lurkedyn [WB(2): weren hid; L latuerant].
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Wisd.1.8 : He þat spekeþ wicke thingis may not lurken.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)248a/b : Aboute heggis lurkeþ and lateþ [L latitant] venemous wormes, frogges, serpentes, and eddres.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)274a/b : Men bryngeþ þe wesil to the cocatrices denne, wher þe cocatrice lurkiþ [L delitescunt] and is y-hudde.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.305 : O soule, lurkynge in this wo, unneste, Fle forth out of myn herte and lat it breste.
- a1425 NHom.(3) Leg.Suppl.Hrl.(Hrl 4196)87/573 : It crepid..whore þe moder lay; It lurked vnder þe mantill lapp.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)44a/a : Bubo is y-take on 3 wisez proprely for only aposteme lurkyng [*Ch.(2): lurkynge; L latitante] to maner of an owle aboute þe wallez in þe armeholez.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(3) (Htrn 95)49a/a : Þe eres schewen reised vppe wiþ outen þe heued..be cause þat þe sownynges þat ben riȝt fluxibel miȝte hide hem oþere lurke [*MS Wel.564 22b/b: lorke] vnder þe schadowe of hem to þat þei were take of þe organe of heringe.
- (1435) Misyn FL (Corp-O 236)24/2 : Þof all þai lurk [L lateant] to a tyme..in þe ende qwhatkynns þai haue bene þai sall appere.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)1001 : But a Sourdyng with sourgrem sanke in his hert, And a lourekand lust to Lamydon the kyng.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)3991 : Þe prowis & þe prouidens..Þat lurkis with-in þis lede, full litill he kennes.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)187/13 : In þe hynderparte of his head, he fand ij privay een lurkand.
- 1483 Cath.Angl.(Monson 168)224 : Lurkynge: latens, latitans.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)130/33 : Beside the whiche cite was a ryuoure like to the see, in the which lay and lurkyd an edder or a dragon.
- a1500 Add.Hymnal (Add 34193)447/18 : Owr sawlys all that han bene soiled in synne, Illumyne, lord, be þi gracyows influence, That non offence be lurkyng vs with ine.
b
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Judg.9.32 : Arise also þe nyȝt wiþ þe puple þat is wiþ þee & lurke [WB(2): be thou hid; L latita] in þe feeld.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Judg.21.20 : Goth & lurkeþ in þe vynes & whan ȝee seen þe dowȝtris of Silo at þe dawncys..goth out..& takeþ þem eche sondre wifes.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.NP.(Manly-Rickert)B.4416 : O false mordrour lurkynge in thy den!
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.6746 : Phebus..on every side Awaiteth..And thus lurkende upon his stelthe In his await..he lai.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)137b/a : Addre and serpentis lorkynge among gras hurttiþ men þat passiþ but litil.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)1167 : Jason..and..knightes moo..Wonen vp wynly vppon wale horses, Silen to the Citie softly and faire, Lurkyt vnder lefe-sals loget with vines.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)141/37 : By suggestion he deceyueþ men, lurkyn[g] whome he seeþ slowe and froward to good werkis.
c
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.CY.(Manly-Rickert)G.658 : Lurkynge in hernes and in lanes blynde Where as thise robbours and thise theues by kynde Holden hir pryuee fereful residence.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1195 : Þe lede lay lurked a ful longe quyle, Compast in his concience to quat þat cace myȝt Meue oþer amount.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)465 : There lurked and there coured she, For pover thing, whereso it be, Is shamefast and dispised ay.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.208 : In þe dai of dome..shal Cristis baner be rerid, and alle hise enemyes shulen lurke.
- c1440 Degrev.(Thrn)1671 : Than þe remenant flees..And sum lurkede [vr. lorkus] vndir trees And couers þam full clene.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)258/107 : Itt were grete skorne þat he schulde skape..He lokis lurkand like an nape.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)9546 : He chalinget Achilles..Þat lurket in his loge, list not to helpe.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)163/83 : Alas! I lurk and dare! To slo this barne I bare, what wight in warld had wyll?
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)105/3 : Apostles, the whiche in tyme of passion of God lurkyd and stillyd, ne durste noȝt preche.
d
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1180 : G[awayn] þe god mon in gay bed lygez, Lurkkez quyl þe day-lyȝt lemed on þe wowes.
e
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)25 : Þat litel child listely lorked out of his caue, Faire floures forto fecche.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)2213 : Þat witty werwolf þe weyes hem kenned, lorkinde þurth londes bi niȝt, so lumbardie þei passed.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)2.178 : Liȝtliche liȝere lep awey þennes, Lurkyng [vrr. Lorkyng, lurkande, Lurked, Lurkede] þoruȝ lanes, toluggid of manye.
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)277 : Þenne he lurkkes & laytes where watz le best, In vche a nok of his nauel.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)978 : Þen wolde [I] no lenger byde, Bot lurked by launcez so lufly leued.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)813 : Þen lacches his leue..Past furth priuely and þat pert leuyt, Enon lurkys to his loge & laide hym to slepe.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)13106 : Vlyxes..lurkyd by nyght ffro the Cite to the see.
f
- (1279) Pleas Som.in Som.RS 44203 : William Lurkepyn.
- (1322) Pat.R.Edw.II154 : John Lurk.