- lurk´ing|ly
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1. to stay about without arousing attention; wait out of sight: »
A tiger was lurking in the jule outside the village. The spy lurked in the shadows.
2. Figurative. to be hidden; be unsuspected or latent: »A cunning politician often lurks under the clerical robe (Washington Irving). A fever lurked in my veins (Charles Brockden Brown).
3. to move about in a secret and sly manner: »The thief was caught lurking near the house. ... the main thoroughfare…by which cook lurks down before daylight to scour her pots and pans (Thackeray).
╂[Middle English lurken, apparently < louren lower2]–lurk´er, noun.–lurk´ing|ly, adverb.Synonym Study 1, 3 Lurk, skulk mean to keep out of sight or move in a secret or furtive way. Lurk often but not always suggests an evil purpose: »A stray dog was seen lurking about the house.
Skulk, implying sneakiness, cowardice, or shame, always suggests an evil purpose: »The cattle thieves skulked in the woods until the posse had passed.
Useful english dictionary. 2012.