beacon vs escort

beacon

noun
  • That which gives notice of danger, or keeps people on the correct path. 

  • An electronic device that broadcasts a signal to nearby portable devices, enabling smartphones etc. to perform actions when in physical proximity to the beacon. 

  • A signal fire to notify of the approach of an enemy, or to give any notice, commonly of warning. 

  • A high hill or other easily distinguishable object near the shore which can serve as guidance for seafarers. 

  • A signal or conspicuous mark erected on an eminence near the shore, or moored in shoal water, as a guide to mariners. 

  • A post or buoy placed over a shoal or bank to warn vessels of danger; also a signal mark on land. (FM 55-501) 

verb
  • To furnish with a beacon or beacons. 

  • To act as a beacon. 

  • To give light to, as a beacon; to light up; to illumine. 

escort

noun
  • Protection, care, or safeguard on a journey or excursion. 

  • A sex worker who does not operate in a brothel, but with whom clients make appointments; a call girl or male equivalent. 

  • A guard who travels with a dangerous person, such as a criminal, for the protection of others. 

  • A group of people or vehicles, generally armed, who go with a person or people of importance to safeguard them on a journey or mission. 

  • An accompanying person in such a group. 

  • A group of people attending as a mark of respect or honor. 

  • An accompanying person in a social gathering, etc. 

verb
  • To go with someone as a partner, for example on a formal date. 

  • To attend to in order to guard and protect; to accompany as a safeguard (for the person escorted or for others); to give honorable or ceremonious attendance to 

  • To accompany (a person) in order to compel them to go somewhere (e.g. to leave a building). 

How often have the words beacon and escort occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )