Heark"en (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Hearkened (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Hearkening.] [OE. hercnen, hercnien, AS. hercnian, heorcnian, fr. hi'eran, hran, 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.
The Furies hearken, and their snakes uncurl.
Dryden.
Hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you.
Deut. iv. 1.
2.
To inquire; to seek information.
[Obs.] "
Hearken after their offense."
Shak.
Syn. -- To attend; listen; hear; heed. See Attend, v. i.
© Webster 1913.
Heark"en, v. t.
1.
To hear by listening.
[Archaic]
[She] hearkened now and then
Some little whispering and soft groaning sound.
Spenser.
2.
To give heed to; to hear attentively.
[Archaic]
The King of Naples . . . hearkens my brother's suit.
Shak.
To hearken out, to search out. [Obs.]
If you find none, you must hearken out a vein and buy.
B. Johnson.
© Webster 1913.