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Hark vs Hearken - What's the difference?

hark | hearken |

As verbs the difference between hark and hearken

is that hark is to listen attentively; often used in the imperative while hearken is to listen; to attend or give heed to what is uttered; to hear with attention, obedience, or compliance.

hark

English

Alternative forms

* (l) (obsolete)

Verb

(en verb)
  • To listen attentively; often used in the imperative.
  • * 1739 , “Hymn for Christmas-Day”, Hymns and Sacred Poems, (Charles Wesley) and (George Whitefield):
    • “Glory to the new born King,
  • * 1906: , The Four Million] [http://etext.virginia.edu/etcbin/ot2www-pubeng?specfile=/texts/english/modeng/publicsearch/modengpub.o2w&act=surround&offset=354518751&tag=Henry,+O.,+1862-1910:+The+four+million;,+1906&query=+harking&id=HenFour
    • Loud voices and a renewed uproar were raised in front of the boarding-house..."'Tis Missis Murphy's voice," said Mrs. McCaskey, harking .
  • * 1959: , A Christmas Carol
    • "Hark ! The Herald Tribune sings, / Advertising wondrous things!"

    Derived terms

    * hark back

    Related terms

    * (l)/(l) * (l) ----

    hearken

    English

    Alternative forms

    * harken

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To listen; to attend or give heed to what is uttered; to hear with attention, obedience, or compliance.
  • * Dryden
    • The Furies hearken , and their snakes uncurl.
  • * Bible, Deuteronomy
    • Hearken , O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you.
  • (poetic) To hear by listening.
  • * Spenser
    • [She] hearkened now and then / Some little whispering and soft groaning sound.
  • To hear with attention; to regard.
  • * Shakespeare
    • The King of Naples hearkens my brother's suit.
  • (obsolete) To enquire; to seek information.
  • * Shakespeare
    • Hearken after their offense.

    Quotations

    * , Genesis 3:17 *: And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; * 1833 : , Œnone *: Dear mother Ida, harken ere I die. * 1809-49 : The Tell-Tale Heart, *: How then am I mad? Hearken ! and observe how healthily, how calmly, I can tell you the whole story.

    References

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