loiter
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
English[edit]
Etymology[edit]
From Middle English loitren, from Middle Dutch loteren (“to shake, wag, wobble”), ultimately connected with a frequentative form of Proto-Germanic *lūtaną (“to bend, stoop, cower, shrink from, decline”), see lout. Cognate with Modern Dutch leuteren (“to dawdle”), Alemannic German lottern (“to wobble”), German Lotterbube (“rascal”). More at lout, little.
Pronunciation[edit]
Verb[edit]
loiter (third-person singular simple present loiters, present participle loitering, simple past and past participle loitered)
- To stand about without any aim or purpose; to stand about idly; to linger; to hang around.
- For some reason, they discourage loitering outside the store, but encourage it inside.
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2015 January 31, Daniel Taylor, “David Silva seizes point for Manchester City as Chelsea are checked”, in The Guardian (London)[1]:
- Agüero, as usual, was loitering with intent and swung his left foot at the ball. The shot was going wide but Silva was there to apply the decisive touch inside the six-yard area.
Translations[edit]
to stand about idly
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