D defs.my
Menu ☰
Entry 4 senses · 2 variants Webster, 1913

Hearken

/(härk"'n)/ · Heark·en · IPA /ˈhɑɹkən/
01 v. i. To listen; to lend the ear; to attend to what is uttered; to give heed; to hear, in order to obey or comply.
imp. & p. p. Hearkened; p. pr. & vb. n. Hearkening
  1. 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. 2.
    To inquire; to seek information.[Obs.]
Syn. To attend; listen; hear; heed. See Attend, v. i.
02 v. t. To hear by listening.
  1. 1.
    To hear by listening.[Archaic]
    “[She] hearkened now and then Some little whispering and soft groaning sound.” — Spenser.
  2. 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.
Phrases & compounds
To hearken out — to search out.