prowling
徘徊する
解説 Definition
prowling は prowl（徘徊する、うろつく）の現在分詞・動名詞です。人や動物が何かを探したり警戒したりしながら、静かに歩き回る場面で使われます。
The present participle or gerund of prowl, describing the act of moving quietly and watchfully around an area, often while searching for prey, an opportunity, or a way to enter somewhere unnoticed.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
原形 prowl に -ing をそのまま付けた現在分詞・動名詞で、prowl―prowling と変化します。a cat prowling around the yard、someone prowling near the gate のように、「獲物・機会・侵入口などを探し、静かに警戒しながら歩き回る」場面で覚えます。目的のない wandering より不審さや捕食の気配があります。
Prowling is made by adding -ing directly to prowl. Picture a cat moving silently around an empty yard, wolves searching the forest edge, or a suspicious person lingering near a back gate. The movement is not simply aimless: someone or something prowling is usually alert and looking for prey, an opportunity, or access. Useful patterns are “prowling around the yard,” “prowling near the gate,” and “prowling along the forest edge.” Compared with wandering, prowling carries a stronger sense of secrecy, watchfulness, possible danger, or predatory purpose.
例文
A cat was prowling around the empty yard at night.
夜、猫が人気のない庭をうろついていました。
The guard noticed someone prowling near the back gate.
警備員は裏門の近くを誰かが徘徊しているのに気づきました。
Wolves were prowling along the edge of the forest.
オオカミたちが森の端をうろついていました。
prowling の類義語・関連語
prowling の語源・成り立ち Etymology
prowling は prowl＋-ing で、prowl は中英語 prollen「こっそり歩き回る」に由来するが、その先の語源は不詳とされる。関連語に prowl, prowler があり、獲物や機会を探して静かにうろつく動きが、そのまま「徘徊する」の語感につながっている。
Prowling is the -ing form of prowl. Prowl comes from Middle English prollen, used for moving about stealthily or searching for something, but its earlier origin is uncertain. The modern word retains that central image of quiet, watchful movement, often associated with hunting animals or suspicious people. Adding -ing creates the present participle used in continuous verb forms and the gerund that names the activity. Prowler is a related noun for a person or animal that prowls.
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