hearken

[hahr-kuh n] /ˈhɑr kən/
verb (used without object)
1.
Literary. to give heed or attention to what is said; listen.
verb (used with object)
2.
Archaic. to listen to; hear.
Also, harken.
Origin
1150-1200; Middle English hercnen, Old English he(o)rcnian, suffixed form of assumed *heorcian; see hark, -en1
Related forms
hearkener, noun
Examples from the web for hearken
  • Chess is a game in which to hearken back to the good old days is often to be right up with the latest trend in strategy.
  • The design doesn't hearken back to another era, it is from another era.
  • These arguments over the role of government in the market hearken back to the earliest days of capitalism.
  • Teased tresses and heavy makeup hearken back to earlier times.
  • Members of the jury, hearken to your verdict as the court will record it.
British Dictionary definitions for hearken

hearken

/ˈhɑːkən/
verb
1.
(archaic) to listen to (something)
Derived Forms
hearkener, noun
Word Origin
Old English heorcnian; see hark
Word Origin and History for hearken
v.

Old English heorcnian, a suffixed form of *heorcian, root of hark; from Proto-Germanic *hausjan (see hear). Harken is the usual spelling in U.S. and probably is better justified by etymology; hearken likely is from influence of hear.