verb
also hark·en ˈhärkən, ˈhȧk-
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English herkenen, from Old English heorcnian, hyrcnian; akin to Old Frisian herkia, harkia to listen — more at hark
intransitive verb
1. : to give ear : listen
hearkened without much mental comment — Theodore Dreiser
hearkened to all they said night after night — Glenway Wescott
stopped to hearken to the distant sound of another dog barking — Winnie Fitch
2. : to listen with attention, sympathy, or acceptance of what is said : give respectful attention
the boy was hearkening to another — Fanny Butcher
how was it possible … that nobody hearkened to Goethe's voice — J.P.Hodin
the humble folk who hearkened to these evangelists — G.M.Stephenson
transitive verb
archaic : to give heed to : hear