beckon, becken, becine, bekne (ne = en)

i. & t. [A.S. beacnan, becnian, Буспап, буспіan = to beckon; Icel. bakna = to nod; O. H. Ger. bauhnjan, pauhnen, pauhan. Comp. also Sw. peka; Dan. pege to point at with the finger.] [BECK (1), S., BEACON.] A. Intransitive: 1. To make a signal to one, as by a motion of the hand or of a finger, or the nodding of the head. "Yonder snow-white cloud, that floats in the ether above me, Seems like a hand that is pointing and beckoning over the ocean." Long fellow: The Courtship of Miles Standish, v. 2. With the preposition to . B. Transitive: To summon or signal to by means of a motion of the hand, a nod, . (Followed by the objective of the person signalled to.) "It beckons you to go away with it, As if it some impartment did desire To you alone. Shakesp.: Hamlet, i. 4.