hearkening

1 definition found

hearkening - 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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