hearken

or hark·en

[ hahr-kuhn ]

verb (used without object)

1. Literary. to give heed or attention to what is said; listen.

verb (used with object)

1. Archaic. to listen to; hear.

hearken

/ ˈhɑːkən /

verb

1. archaic.
   to listen to (something)

Derived Forms

• ˈhearkener, noun

Other Words From

• hearken·er noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of hearken¹

1150–1200; Middle English hercnen, Old English he ( o ) rcnian, suffixed form of assumed *heorcian; hark, -en ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of hearken¹

Old English heorcnian; see hark

Example Sentences

I hearkened it back to, “What is actually beautiful? And do I believe in it?”

From Los Angeles Times

What I find fascinating today, too, is the Gen Z is also hearkening back to the past with a more fluid life where these labels and binaries didn't exist.

From Salon

But his message appeared tailored to a conservative U.S. audience, hearkening to previous times.

From Los Angeles Times

The idea of such an infrastructure hearkens back to the Heritage Foundation's ambition to launch a "conservative infrastructure" from the Reagan administration.

From Salon

For others, it hearkens to a time of fear and frustration as the nation hit back at foes real and perceived.

From Seattle Times