Heark·en v. i. [imp. & p. p. Hearkened p. pr. & vb. n. Hearkening.]
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.”
Syn: -- To attend; listen; hear; heed. See Attend, v. i.
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.
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hearken
v : listen; used mostly in the imperative [syn: hark, harken]