v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Hearkened p. pr. & vb. n. Hearkening. ] [ OE. hercnen, hercnien, AS. hercnian, heorcnian, fr. hiéran, h&ymacr_;ran, 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

The Furies hearken, and their snakes uncurl. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

Hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you. Deut. iv. 1. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To inquire; to seek information. [ Obs. ] “Hearken after their offense.” Shak.

Syn. -- To attend; listen; hear; heed. See Attend, v. i. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. 1. To hear by listening. [ Archaic ] [ 1913 Webster ]

[ She ] hearkened now and then
Some little whispering and soft groaning sound. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To give heed to; to hear attentively. [ Archaic ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The King of Naples . . . hearkens my brother's suit. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

To hearken out, to search out. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

If you find none, you must hearken out a vein and buy. B. Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who hearkens; a listener. [ 1913 Webster ]