Heark"en (härk"'n), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Hearkened (-'nd); 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.

The Furies hearken, and their snakes uncurl.

Dryden.

Hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you.

Deut. iv. 1.

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

Syn. -- To attend; listen; hear; heed. See Attend, v. i.

Heark"en, v. t. 1. To hear by listening. [Archaic]

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

Spenser.

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

The King of Naples . . . hearkens my brother's suit.

Shak.

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

If you find none, you must hearken out a vein and buy.

B. Johnson.