Main Entry: heark·en

Pronunciation: \ˈhär-kən\

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): heark·ened; heark·en·ing \ˈhärk-niŋ, ˈhär-kə-\

Etymology: Middle English herknen, from Old English heorcnian; akin to Old High German hōrechen to listen, Old English hīeran to hear

Date: before 12th century

intransitive verb 1 : listen
2 : to give respectful attentiontransitive verb archaic : to give heed to : hear