v.
Pronunciation: ' här-k ə n
Function: verb
Inflected Form: heark · ened ; heark · en · ing \ ' härk-ni ŋ , ' här-k ə - \
Etymology: Middle English herknen, from Old English heorcnian; akin to Old High German h ō rechen to listen, Old English h ī eran to hear
Date: before 12th century
intransitive verb
1 : LISTEN
2 : to give respectful attention
transitive verb archaic : to give heed to : HEAR