Heark"en (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Hearkened (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Hearkening.] [OE. hercnen, hercnien, AS. hercnian, heorcnian, fr. hi'eran, hran, to hear; akin to OD. harcken, horcken, LG. harken, horken, G. horchen. See Hear, and cf. Hark..]

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.

 

© Webster 1913.


Heark"en, v. t.

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.

To hearken out, to search out. [Obs.]

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

 

© Webster 1913.

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