hearken

American  

[hahr-kuhn] / ˈhɑr kən /

Or harken

verb (used without object)

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

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verb (used with object)

1. Archaic. to listen to; hear.

hearken British  

/ ˈhɑːkən /

verb

1. archaic to listen to (something)

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Other Word Forms

• hearkener noun

Etymology

Origin of hearken

1150–1200; Middle English hercnen, Old English he ( o ) rcnian, suffixed form of assumed *heorcian; hark, -en ¹

Example Sentences

As directed by James Griffiths, Mr. Basden and Mr. Key’s screenplay hearkened back to “Local Hero” with its warm glow of appreciation for U.K. oddballs.

From The Wall Street Journal

A line of dialogue hearkens back to the beginning in a way that might be thought of as closure, as a circle closes without going anywhere, and yet things are not the same.

From Los Angeles Times

And it’s on Max, but it sort of hearkens back to, like, the old-school broadcast kind of drama.

From Los Angeles Times

The title may hearken back to decades long gone, but there’s something contemporary about “Mid-Century Modern.”

From Los Angeles Times

Carney revealed it on Friday during his first speech as prime minister when he hearkened back - with a shiny polish - to the origins of this former colony.

From BBC