hearken
or hark·en
Literary. to give heed or attention to what is said; listen.
Archaic. to listen to; hear.
Origin of hearken
1Other words from hearken
- heark·en·er, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use hearken in a sentence
"Hearkening and obedience," replied the smith and falling to work on them, speedily despatched them for him.
Alaeddin and the Enchanted Lamp | John Payne"Hearkening and obedience," replied the other and going before him, guided him to Alaeddin's palace.
Alaeddin and the Enchanted Lamp | John PayneMeanwhile, Ben sweeps on like the wind, hearkening even in his haste for the welcome "thwack, thwack" of his father's axe.
Little Folks (November 1884) | VariousAnd yet—and yet, hearkening, I caught the same unsteady note that had made me curious of him often and often before.
Where the Pavement Ends | John RussellA rank odor of earth filled it; and I never passed that way without hearkening for the insect-like song of the rattlesnake.
Lazarre | Mary Hartwell Catherwood
British Dictionary definitions for hearken
sometimes US harken
/ (ˈhɑːkən) /
archaic to listen to (something)
Origin of hearken
1Derived forms of hearken
- hearkener, noun
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
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