Harks

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To listen carefully or give close attention to what is being said or to a sound
2. To pay close attention to auditory information or respond with concentrated listening
3. To attend thoughtfully or listen with interest to a spoken message or noise

Etymology: "Harks" is the third-person singular present of "hark," a verb meaning to listen closely. The word has been in English since at least the 1300s, when it appeared in Middle English as "herken," and it is closely tied to the older verb "hearken," which is a variant of the same root. The two forms existed side by side for centuries, and "hark" eventually became the common spelling in modern usage. The root goes back to Old English "heorcnian," which was related to "hīeran" (to hear) and shares ancestry with the verb "hear" itself. "Hark" is most famous today from the command "Hark!" meaning "listen!", which often introduces a dramatic or attention-grabbing sound. It was a popular interjection in poetry and carols, including "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing," where the phrase preserves its original sense of calling for attentive listening.

Synonyms: listens, heeds, attends, pays attention, observes

Antonyms: ignores, overlooks, disregards, neglects, misses