Forms: 1 bíecn-, bécn-, bícn-, býcn-ian, béacn-an, 2–4 becn(i)-en, 3 bæcni-en, 4–5 beken, biken, 5 bekn-yn (? bekyn, beccyn), 6–8 becken, 7 becon, 5– beckon. [OE. bíecnan:—OTeut. *bauknjan, f. baukno-, in OE. béacn sign, BEACON; cogn. w. OS. bôknian, OHG. bouhhanjan, bouhnen. Also OE. béacnian, a later formation on the sb.: cf. ON. bâkna, and BEACON v.]
1. intr. To make a mute signal or significant gesture with the head, hand, finger, etc.; now esp. in order to bid a person approach.
c. 950. Lindisf. Gosp., Luke i. 22. He wæs becnende ðæm.
c. 1000. Ags. G., ibid. He wæs bicniende him.
c. 1160. Hatton G., ibid. He wæs beacniende heom.
c. 1200. Ormin, 223. Comm he siþþenn út All dumb … And toc to becnenn till þe follc.
1388. Wyclif, Ps. xxxiv. 19. Aduersaries … haten me with out cause, and bikenen with iȝen.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 29. Beknyn, annuto.
1530. Palsgr., 444/2. I becken with the heed to gyve one warnynge of a thynge.
1675. Hobbes, Odyss. (1677), 259. Then to his son with’s eye he beckoned.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe, I. 241. I beckon’d with my Hand to him, to come back.
1834. Ht. Martineau, Demerara, vii. 89. He was about to beckon to his companion.
† b. To act as a beacon. Obs. rare.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, XIV. 6037. Brode firis & brem beccyn in þe ost, That yche freike in the fild his felow might know.
2. trans. (the object orig. dat.; see sense 1): To make a mute signal or significant gesture of head or hand to (a person), as commanding his attention or action, and esp. his approach; hence, to summon or bid approach by such a gesture.
[c. 1000. Ags. G., Luke v. 7. Hiʓ bicnodon hyra ʓeferan.
c. 1160. Hatton G., ibid. Hýo becneden heore ʓe-feren.]
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, VII. 3112. And ho … beckonet hym boldly … his place to Remeve.
c. 1440. Generydes, II. 3827. With hir kerche she bekenyd hym aside.
1604. Shaks., Oth., IV. i. 134. Iago becons me: now he begins the story.
1712. Steele, Spect., No. 498, ¶ 3. A lively young fellow … beckoned a coach.
1732. Swift, Lett., 58, Wks. 1761, VIII. 133. You may becken a blackguard-boy under a gate.
1816. J. Wilson, City of Plague, I. iv. 138. He beckon’d me to ascend a cart.
† b. To summon by a signal of any kind. Obs.
c. 1205. Lay., 21938. He lette blæwen bemen and þa Scottes bæcnien [1250 bannien].
† 3. intr. To nod; to bow. Obs. Cf. BECK v. 3.
1578. Lyte, Dodoens, 330. The flowers hang uppon tender stalkes, nodding or beckning downewardes.
