Lokynge

Part of speech: verb, noun

Definitions

1. The act of directing one's eyes toward something in order to see it, as in an archaic or Middle English gazing or peering
2. An older term for the action of turning the eyes upon an object and watching or observing it closely
3. Archaic word meaning the activity of fixing one's sight on a thing, staring, glancing, or peering at it

Etymology: This is a Middle English spelling, and it could stand for either of two verbs. The "look" line comes from Old English "lōcian," meaning to look or gaze, and the "lock" line comes from Old English "lūcan," meaning to shut or fasten. Scribes at the time spelled vowels loosely, so the form alone does not settle which one was meant. The ending "-ynge" is the Middle English form of the present participle and verbal noun suffix, which descends from Old English "-ende" and "-ung." Modern "looking" and "locking" both developed from these two older verbs.