lulled

Lulled is the past tense and past participle of lull. It describes causing someone or something to sleep or to become calm and quiet, as well as bringing about a temporary state of ease or security. In literal uses, one might say a lullaby lulled a baby to sleep. In figurative uses, a policy or calm atmosphere may lull people into a false sense of security or reduce vigilance.

Etymology and related terms: The verb derives from the noun lull, which appears in Middle English. The exact origins of the word are uncertain, but the sense is consistently tied to soothing, quieting, or easing disturbance. Related forms include lullaby, which is a song intended to lull a child to sleep, and the noun lull, meaning a brief period of quiet or inactivity.

Usage and nuance: Lulled often pairs with prepositions or indirect objects to indicate what is being calmed or what someone is being made to feel secure against. Common constructions include lull someone to sleep, lull someone into sleep, and lull someone into a false sense of security. The term can carry a subtle critique, suggesting that the calm is temporary or misleading, especially when it follows tension or danger. In narrative or analysis, describing a scene as lulled signals a shift from active alertness to passive ease, sometimes foreshadowing a return of disruption.