from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Hearken \Heark"en\ (h[aum]rk"'n), v. i. [imp. & p. p.
{Hearkened} (-'nd); p. pr. & vb. n. {Hearkening}.] [OE.
hercnen, hercnien, AS. hercnian, heorcnian, fr. hi['e]ran,
h[=y]ran, 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.
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The Furies hearken, and their snakes uncurl.
--Dryden.
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Hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the
judgments, which I teach you. --Deut. iv. 1.
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2. To inquire; to seek information. [Obs.] "Hearken after
their offense." --Shak.
Syn: To attend; listen; hear; heed. See {Attend}, v. i.
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