also 5–7 alure. [a. OFr. alure-r, aleurrer, alerrer to attract, captivate, f. à to + lurer, leurrer to LURE, orig. a term of Falconry.]
1. To attract by the offer of some advantage or pleasure; to tempt by something flattering or acceptable; to entice; to win over. a. to (or from) a person or party.
1401. Pol. Poems (1859), II. 54. Alle these ben alured to ȝoure sory secte.
1574. trans. Marlorat’s Apocalips, 116. He executeth the office of our mediator, gently alluring vs vnto him.
1614. Raleigh, Hist. World, III. 58. To allure the principall of them to his partie.
1796. Morse, Amer. Geog., I. 67. The foreigners, whom the fame of the discoveries of the Portuguese had allured into their service.
1841. Macaulay, Ess., Hastings, 607. The military adventurers who were allured to the Mogul standards.
1847. Dickens, Haunted Man, 210. Alluring her towards him.
b. to (or from) a place.
1531. Elyot, Governor (1875), 12. Excepte with some pleasaunt noyse, thei be alured and conueied vnto an other hyue.
1611. Bible, Hos. ii. 14. I will allure her, and bring her into the wildernesse.
1769. Goldsm., Des. Vill., 170. He … Allur’d to brighter worlds, and led the way.
1781. Cowper, Lett., Wks. 1876, 73. The fine weather … allures the ladies into the garden.
1845. Hamilton, Pop. Educ., viii. (ed. 2), 187. Many workmen are allured from the country.
1846. Prescott, Ferd. & Is., I. ii. 126. He accordingly sought … to allure him back to Spain.
c. to (or from) a course of action.
1513. More, Edw. V., Ded. 2. [It] doth allure all well-disposed persons to the imitation of those things. Ibid. (1534), On the Passion, Wks. 1557, 1274/1. The other lesse euils, that he alewred and alected her with.
1577. Northbrooke, Dicing (1843), 104. Him that did teach and practise … vaine pastimes and playes, and did allure children vp therein.
1684. Bunyan, Pilgr., II. Introd. 134. Things that seem to be hid in words obscure, Do but the Godly mind the more alure, To study.
1750. Johnson, Rambl., No. 170, ¶ 12. Had she not been allured by hopes of relief.
1870. Edgar, Runnymede, 211. Nothing could allure him from his fidelity to the crown.
1880. McCarthy, Own Times, III. xlv. 38. Perhaps he had purposely allured his opponents on.
† 2. refl. Obs. rare.
1603. Florio, Montaigne, I. xlii. (1632), 145. Such as allure themselves unto it, and that affect to honour … themselves by such service.
3. simply, To exercise an attractive power upon; to appeal temptingly to; to fascinate, charm.
1612. Drayton, Poly-olb., v. 78. A hundred Nymphs … Whose features might allure the Sea-gods more then thee.
1667. Milton, P. L., III. 573. The golden Sun in splendor likest Heaven Allur’d his eye.
1725. Pope, Odyss., I. 185. Viands of various kinds allure the taste.
1756. Burke, Vind. Nat. Soc., Wks. I. 63. Some were allured by the modern, others reverenced the ancient.
1878. B. Taylor, Deukalion, I. ii. 17. Sad is the message, yet its sense allures.
† 4. gen. To draw to or towards oneself, draw forth, attract, elicit (a thing). Obs.
1616. Sandys, Psalm CXXVIII, 21, in Farr’s S. P. (1848), 80. O thankful then God’s love alure.
1622. Sparrow, Rationale (1661), 174. The Priests … inviting and alluring the mercy of God.
1670. Cotton, Espernon, III. x. 526. He made use of all the odious terms he could invent, to allure his Majesties Indignation.
1794. Paley, Nat. Theol., xx. (1819), 327. A sweet liquor allures the approach of flies.
