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lulling

 - 3 dictionary results

lull

  [luhl]
Use lulling in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. to put to sleep or rest by soothing means: to lull a child by singing.
2. to soothe or quiet.
3. to give or lead to feel a false sense of safety; cause to be less alert, aware, or watchful.
–verb (used without object)
4. to quiet down, let up, or subside: furious activity that finally lulled.
–noun
5. a temporary calm, quiet, or stillness: a lull in a storm.
6. a soothing sound: the lull of falling waters.
7. a pacified or stupefied condition: The drug had put him in a lull.
Origin:
1300–50; ME lullen, of expressive orig.; cf. Sw lulla, G lullen, L lallāre to sing lullaby

Related forms:
luller, noun
lull⋅ing⋅ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To lulling
lull   (lŭl)   
v.   lulled, lull·ing, lulls

v.   tr.

  1. To cause to sleep or rest; soothe or calm.

  2. To deceive into trustfulness: "that honeyed charm that he used so effectively to lull his victims" (S.J. Perelman).

v.   intr.
To become calm.
n.  

  1. A relatively calm interval, as in a storm.

  2. An interval of lessened activity: a lull in sales.


[Middle English lullen, possibly of Low German origin.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

lull  (v.)
c.1300, lullen "hush to sleep," probably imitative of lu-lu sound used to lull a child to sleep (cf. Swed. lulla "to hum a lullaby," Ger. lullen "to rock," Skt. lolati "moves to and fro," M.Du. lollen "to mutter"). The noun is attested from 1659.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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