hearken Meaning, Definition & Usage

Heark"en intransitive verb

Etymology

OE. hercnen, hercnien, AS. hercnian, heorcnian, fr. hiéran, hran, to hear; akin to OD. harcken, horcken, LG. harken, horken, G. horchen. See Hear, and cf. Hark..

Wordforms

imperfect & past participle Hearkened ; present participle & verbal noun Hearkening

Definitions

1. To listen; to lend the ear; to attend to what is uttered; to give heed; to hear, in order to obey or comply.

   The Furies hearken, and their snakes uncurl. Dryden.

   Hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you. Deut. iv. 1.

2. To inquire; to seek information. Obs. "Hearken after their offense." Shak. Syn. -- To attend; listen; hear; heed. See Attend, v. i.

Heark"en transitive verb

Definitions

1. To hear by listening. Archaic

   [She] hearkened now and then Some little whispering and soft groaning sound. Spenser.

2. To give heed to; to hear attentively. Archaic

   The King of Naples . . . hearkens my brother's suit. Shak.

   If you find none, you must hearken out a vein and buy. B. Johnson.