hearken

or hark·en

[hahr-kuh n]

See more synonyms for hearken on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object)

Literary. to give heed or attention to what is said; listen.

verb (used with object)

Archaic. to listen to; hear.

Origin of hearken

1150–1200; Middle English hercnen, Old English he(o)rcnian, suffixed form of assumed *heorcian; see hark, -en¹

Related formsheark·en·er, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for hearken

hark, attend, eavesdrop, get, read, give, strain, apprehend, devour, take, descry, catch, heed, listen, overhear, auscultate

Examples from the Web for hearken

Contemporary Examples of hearken

Hearken to the bleating of newborn two-headed freak candidacy lambs.
PJ’s Political Forecast: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatheads
P. J. O’Rourke
March 14, 2014
And hearken to this latest warning by Kevin Sabet: cigarettes are legal, yet organized crime syndicates still smuggle them.
Let's Have a Smarter Approach to Marijuana
David Frum
January 28, 2013
I hope you'll find it entertaining, but even more that you'll hearken to its message.
"Patriots" Goes Live Today
David Frum
April 30, 2012

Historical Examples of hearken

"But hearken, O my most gracious Sovereign," said the Sheriff.
The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood
Howard Pyle
But that I may be perfect, O Queen of angels, hearken to my prayer, and grant it!
Abbe Mouret's Transgression
Emile Zola
Shall we hearken to their song—follow them, at least a short way?
Continental Monthly, Vol. III, No IV, April 1863
Various
Tell him to give you the key to the quarters of El Aleman, and hearken you!
The Treasure Trail
Marah Ellis Ryan
Hearken always to the voices of the Seven who appointed me your leader.
The Continental Monthly, Vol. 5, No. 5, May, 1864
Various

British Dictionary definitions for hearken

hearken

sometimes US harken

verb

archaic to listen to (something)

Derived Formshearkener, noun

Word Origin for hearken

Old English heorcnian; see hark

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for hearken

Old English heorcnian, a suffixed form of *heorcian, root of hark; from Proto-Germanic *hausjan (see hear). Harken is the usual spelling in U.S. and probably is better justified by etymology; hearken likely is from influence of hear.