stalker
UK: ˈstɔːkə | US: ˈstɔːkər
n. a person who harasses or follows someone obsessively, often secretly
n. a hunter or predator that stealthily pursues prey
n. (botany) the main stem of a plant (less common usage)
The word "stalker" originates from the verb "stalk," which traces back to Old English stealcian ("to walk cautiously or stealthily"), akin to Old Norse stelkr ("a stalk, support"). The agent suffix "-er" transforms the action into a person who performs it. Over time, "stalker" evolved from describing literal hunters or predators to its modern connotation of obsessive pursuit, particularly in human contexts. The botanical sense of "stalk" (plant stem) is a separate semantic branch.
The celebrity hired bodyguards to protect herself from a persistent stalker.
In the wild, a lion is a skilled stalker, creeping silently toward its prey.
The police arrested the stalker for sending threatening letters.
Social media has made it easier for stalkers to monitor their targets.
The corn’s tall stalker swayed gently in the breeze.