lurk´ing|ly

lurk´ing|ly
lurk «lurk», intransitive verb.
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.

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  • lurk — lurk·ing; lurk; lurk·er; lurk·ing·ly; …   English syllables

  • lurk´er — lurk «lurk», intransitive verb. 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 …   Useful english dictionary

  • ing — aborn·ing; aw·ing; bear·ing; be·ing; bell·ing; berth·ing; bind·ing; boul·der·ing; brok·ing; brown·ing; cheese·par·ing; cleans·ing; clos·ing; con·cern·ing; con·sid·er·ing; cop·ing; cov·er·ing; crack·ing; crown·ing; duck·ing; dur·ing; en·dur·ing;… …   English syllables

  • skulk´ing|ly — skulk «skuhlk», verb, noun. –v.i. 1. to keep out of sight to avoid danger, work, or duty; hide for a bad purpose; lurk in a cowardly way; sneak: »On Saturdays several boys could be seen skulking about behind the garage avoiding their chores.… …   Useful english dictionary

  • lurking — lurk·ing …   English syllables

  • lurkingly — lurk·ing·ly …   English syllables

  • lurking-place — lurkˈing place noun • • • Main Entry: ↑lurk …   Useful english dictionary

  • fell-lurking — fell lurkˈing adjective (Shakespeare) Lurking with treacherous purpose • • • Main Entry: ↑fell …   Useful english dictionary

  • ER — ER; ab·er·deen; ab·er·do·ni·an; ab·er·rant; ac·cel·er·ate; ag·glom·er·ate; al·lit·er·ate; al·to·geth·er; an·oth·er; an·ti·cho·lin·er·gic; ap·er; ap·prov·er; av·er·age; back·er; back·hand·er; badg·er; bail·er; bark·er; bar·ri·er; bast·er; beak·er; …   English syllables

  • skulk´er — skulk «skuhlk», verb, noun. –v.i. 1. to keep out of sight to avoid danger, work, or duty; hide for a bad purpose; lurk in a cowardly way; sneak: »On Saturdays several boys could be seen skulking about behind the garage avoiding their chores.… …   Useful english dictionary

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