Middle English Dictionary Entry
herken v.
Entry Info
| Forms | herken v. Also herkien, herk(e, herc, hærce, hark(en, harkien. |
| Etymology | Prob. from herkenen. Also cp. MDu. horken, OFris. harkia, herkia. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To listen attentively, take heed, harken; ~ to, listen to (sb. or sth.); ~ of, listen to (sth.), hear about; ~ unto, listen to (sb.); (b) to listen to (sth. or sb.) attentively, give heed to (sth.); (c) to hear (sth.); (d) to 'watch and wait' (how sth. will turn out).
Associated quotations
a
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)7/5 : Hie..harkieð to ðe idele werkes wiðuten.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)53/33 : Harkieð, harkieð, Eue dohtren!
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)213 : Þe emperowr..of horn ne of hound ne miȝt he here sowne..he..a sty forþ þanne takes to herken after his houndes oþer horn schille.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)21378 : Herc [Frf: herkin], and i sal tel yow.
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)14030 : Herk [Vsp: here; Frf: herkyn] to me a stund.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.95 : But I am sory that I have yow let To herken of youre book ye preysen thus.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)237 : Herkyn, and take heede, and ley to þe ere: Asculto.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)8183 : Sire kyng..to me þou herk!
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)613 : Now herke, be thy trouthe!
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)45/74 : Abraham, how abraham, lyst and herke weyll on to me.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)49/209 : Herke, Abraham, and take good heyd.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)173/142 : Now my jentyll and curteys knyghtys, herke to me!
- c1450(a1375) Octav.(2) (Clg A.2)157 : Hark, þou cokes knaue, Of me þy warsoun þou schalt haue.
- a1500(?a1475) Guy(4) (Cmb Ff.2.38)5 : Therfore schulde men mekely herke And thynke gode allwey to wyrke.
- c1600(?c1395) PPl.Creed (Trin-C R.3.15)155 : [Ich] hiȝede to her house to herken of more.
b
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)31 : Bluðeliche he wule herkien þet þe preost him leið on.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)19/22 : Harkið hwat se haligast seið ðurh ðe profiete Dauið.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)31/31 : Ac hærce hwat tes ilke profiete seið be him.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)47/23 : Se ðe is of gode, he harkeð bleðeliche godes wordes.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Gen.4.23 : Here ȝe my voyce, wyues of lameth; herkin, ȝe, my word.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.425 : Herke this conseil for thy sikernesse.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.1226 : Now herke how thilke unstable whel..wente aboute.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.1310 : But take no kepe of al swich vanytee; Diffye Theofraste, and herke me.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.1323 : Herke why I sey nat this for noght That womman is for mannes help ywroght.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)15748 : Iudas..ran him [Jesus] for to kis, and grett him, herkes [Frf: herkenes] hu.
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)16069 : Pilate did men herk and list all þat þai wald say.
- c1410 Chaucer CT.Sq.(Hrl 7334)F.78 : Whil þat þe kyng sit þus in his nobleye, herkyng [Heng: Herknynge] his mynstrales her þinges pleye.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.2711 : But herk, frist, or þat þou procede, Of eche of hem what schal be þi mede.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.1030 : But herke, Pandare, o word, for I nolde That thow in me wendest so gret folie.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)764 : Now herke what y wol the lere.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)53/65 : Herk now well man what I xal seyn.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)101/19 : Hark ye what I mene.
c
- c1330 Le Freine (Auch)153 : Sone after sche gan herk cokkes crowe & houndes berk.
d
- a1500 Chartier Quad.(2) (Rwl A.338)132/9 : Many of them .. bouwnden to diffende abyde and harke hough the werkis shal be guydede [CQ(1): herken and abide what the conclusion shall be] , and drawe hymself .. from the strokis.