Hearken
/ˈhɑːrkən/noun
To listen attentively; to give heed.
Did you know?The word 'hearken' has connections to the Old English term for 'to hear,' revealing how listening was once considered a sacred act, akin to receiving divine messages.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*hairkaną
“To listen, to hear attentively.”
Old English
OE
hyrcan
“To listen, to heed or obey.”
Middle English
ME
hearken
“To give heed, to listen closely.”
Modern English
Eng
hearken
“To listen attentively, often with a sense of urgency or importance.”