Etymology From Middle English bekenen, beknen, becnen, beknien, from Old English bēacnian, bēcnian, bīecnan (“to signal; beckon”), from Proto-West Germanic *bauknōn, *bauknijan (“to signal”), from *baukn (“signal; beacon”). Cognate with Old Saxon bōknian, Old High German bouhnen, Old Norse bákna. More at beacon.
1
Ambitransitive To wave or nod to somebody with the intention to make the person come closer.
His distant friends, he beckons near.1697, Virgil, “(please specify the book number)”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
It beckons you to go away with it.c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iv]:
2
Ambitransitive To seem attractive and inviting.
How the gentle wind / Beckons through the leaves / As autumn colors fall2016, “Into the Unknown”, in Brandon Michael Armstrong, Joshua Ross Kaufman, Justin Isaac Rubenstein, Patrick Nolen McHale (lyrics), Over the Garden Wall (Original Television Soundtrack), performed by Jack Jones:
Etymology From Middle English bekenen, beknen, becnen, beknien, from Old English bēacnian, bēcnian, bīecnan (“to signal; beckon”), from Proto-West Germanic *bauknōn, *bauknijan (“to signal”), from *baukn (“signal; beacon”). Cognate with Old Saxon bōknian, Old High German bouhnen, Old Norse bákna. More at beacon.
1
A sign made without words; a beck.
At the first beckon.c. 1734, Henry St John, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke, A Dissertation on Parties:
He turn to me, make a beckon with the key in his hand.2020, Abi Daré, The Girl With The Louding Voice, Sceptre, page 110:
2
A children's game similar to hide and seek in which children who have been "caught" may escape if they see another hider beckon to them.