Listen
/ˈlɪs.ən/noun
To pay attention to sound or to hear with focused awareness.
Did you know?The word ultimately comes from a Proto-Germanic root meaning “to hear,” and its old forms were tied to deliberate, attentive hearing rather than passive sound intake.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ḱlew-
“to hear, be renowned”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*hlusnijaną
“to listen, hear attentively”
Old English
OE
hlysnan
“to listen, give ear”
Middle English
ME
listnen
“to listen, attend to”
Modern English
English
listen
“to direct one’s attention to sound”