harkn.
a. An act of harking.
ΚΠ
1810 W. Scott Lady of Lake i. 7 With hark and whoop and wild halloo No rest Benvoirlich's echoes knew.
b. A whisper, a privy communication. Scottish.
ΚΠ
1820 J. Hogg Winter Evening Tales II. 207 Take heart till I tell you the hark of my mind.
c. A shout starting or urging on the hounds in the chase; also hark away.
ΚΠ
1737 M. Green Spleen 83 Exulting at the hark-away.
1743 D. Garrick Lethe i, in Wks. (1798) I. 20 All hie to the midnight hark-away.
1786 Lounger No. 87. 300 I have not forgotten..the encouraging Hark forward to a cautious hound.
1802 R. Bloomfield Rural Tales 101 Ye peaceful Streams that wind along, Repeat the Hark-away.
d. hark back n. a retracing of steps, a backward move
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > relative time > the past > [noun] > going back in time or backward move
recession1646
retrospectivity1797
hark back1798
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > backward movement > [noun] > return towards point of departure
returna1393
returning?c1400
recoursec1405
regress1478
reverture1495
retraira1500
regression1598
reflexa1613
recursion1616
revolture1633
retroition1651
hark back1798
recover1818
1798 Sporting Mag. 12 5 The chace an oblique ‘hark back’ of two miles.
1859 D. Masson Brit. Novelists ii. 152 The attempt..is interesting as a hark-back to mediævalism.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1898; most recently modified version published online September 2019).
harkv.
/hɑːk/, U.S. /hɑrk/ 1. transitive. To give ear or listen to; to hearken to, hear with active attention.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > hear [verb (intransitive)] > listen > listen to
listc897
harkc1175
to open one's earsa1200
listenc1290
to listen onc1330
tend1340
to lay to one's eara1382
attend1447
hearken to1526
to listen one's ears (or an ear) toa1533
to hear to1833
the mind > attention and judgement > attention > notice, observation > observe, note [verb (transitive)] > listen attentively, heed
listc897
listenc950
hearOE
hearkenc1000
harkc1175
listc1175
to-heara1250
listenc1290
to listen onc1330
to wait to ——c1440
regard1533
c1175 Lamb. Hom. 31 Bluðeliche he wule herkien þet þe preost him leið on.
c1200 Vices & Virt. (1888) 19 Harkið hwat se haligast seið.
c1325 Lai le Freine 147 Sone after she gan herk Cokkes crowe, and houndes berk.
c1385 G. Chaucer Legend Good Women Dido. 1276 Now herkith how he schal his lady serue.
1490 W. Caxton tr. Foure Sonnes of Aymon (1885) ix. 246 Herke what we wyll telle you.
1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid xii. x. 30 Now harkis quhat I purpos do this tyde.
a1529 J. Skelton Magnyfycence (?1530) sig. Bii What I say herke a worde.
1598 B. Yong tr. A. Pérez 2nd Pt. Diana in tr. J. de Montemayor Diana 282 Harke but one worde that I shall say vnto thee.
c1680 W. Beveridge Serm. (1729) I. 506 Hark what he himself here saith.
1830 Ld. Tennyson Sonnet to J. M. K. Hating to hark The humming of the drowsy pulpit-drone.
2. intransitive. To give ear, hearken, listen.
a. with to.
ΚΠ
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 14030 Herk to me a stund.
1513 G. Douglas in tr. Virgil Æneid ix. Prol. 6 Quha tharto harkis fallis in fragilite.
1580 Sir P. Sidney tr. Psalmes David xvii. i Just Lord, to my suit hark.
1646 R. Crashaw Steps to Temple 112 Harke hether, Reader, wouldst thou see Nature her owne Physitian bee?
1786 R. Burns Poems & Songs (1968) I. 103 Had I to guid advice but harket.
1855 T. T. Lynch Rivulet lxix. 100 We hark with holy fear To the lingering sounds sublime.
1887 G. M. Fenn Dick o' the Fens vii Hark at him!..young squire ar'n't going to eat any more bacon, 'cause it's cruel to kill the pigs.
1894 S. R. Crockett Raiders 178 Hark to the rattle of the guns.
1895 ‘G. Mortimer’ Like Stars that Fall xiii ‘You're so spry, I can't trust you for a grass widow.’ ‘Hark at him!’ laughed Mrs. Larpenti.
b. absol. Chiefly in imperative.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > attention > notice, observation > take note, observe [verb (intransitive)] > give ear, hearken
hearkenc1000
listc1000
understanda1200
listenc1225
hear1382
harka1400
to listen up1933
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 21378 Herc, and i sal tel yow.
c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 237/1 Herkyn, and take heede, and ley to þe ere..asculto.
1513 G. Douglas in tr. Virgil Æneid ii. Prol. 15 Harkis, ladyis, ȝour bewtie was the caus.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Tempest (1623) iv. i. 259 Harke, they rore. View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 1 (1623) i. vii. 27 Hearke Countreymen, eyther renew the fight, Or teare the Lyons out of Englands Coat. View more context for this quotation
c1709 M. Prior 2nd Hymn Callimachus 4 Hark! he knocks.
1821 J. Clare Village Minstrel II. 86 I knew her well And her whole history, if ye'll hark, can tell.
1822 Ld. Byron Heaven & Earth i. iii, in Liberal 1 199 Hark, hark! Deep sounds..Are howling from the mountain's bosom.
c. In the imperative the nominative ye is often added (also written hark'ee, harkee); less commonly hark you, and by confusion hark thee (cf. fare thee well).
ΚΠ
1594 W. Shakespeare Titus Andronicus ii. i. 99 Why harke ye, harke ye, and are you such fooles To square for this. View more context for this quotation
1607 B. Jonson Volpone v. iii. sig. L4v But, hearke you: Remember, what your Ladyship offerd mee. View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare Two Gentlemen of Verona (1623) iii. i. 127 Harke thee: I will goe to her alone. View more context for this quotation
1708 P. A. Motteux Wks. F. Rabelais (1737) iv. lxiv. 261 Harkee me, dear Rogue!
1709 R. Steele Tatler No. 38. ⁋9 Hark'ee, No Names.
1711 E. Budgell Spectator No. 150. ⁋9 Hark you, Sirrah, I'll pay off your extravagant Bills once more.
1751 E. Moore Gil Blas Prol. sig. A3 But hark ye, Poet!—won't you tho', says I?
1837 B. D. Walsh tr. Aristophanes Knights ii. iii, in Comedies 203 Harkee, Quick haul up your ponderous dolphins.
1838 E. Bulwer-Lytton Alice I. ii. iii. 158 Harkye! one word more with me, Sir, and you quit my service to-morrow.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > discovery > find out, discover [verb (transitive)] > by asking or enquiring
askOE
speer1390
to get out1530
hark1561
hearken1590
outlearn1596
elicitate1642
elicita1676
1561 T. Hoby tr. B. Castiglione Courtyer iii. sig. Bb.iiii Those yt go alwaies harking out ye loues of others & disclose them so point by point.
4.
a. intransitive. Used in hunting, etc., as a call of attention and incitement, esp. in collocation with an adverb directing what action is to be performed: hence denoting the action: see below. Cf. also hark n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > hunting > signals > cry [interjection] > cry
soho1307
sa-ha1606
whoo-whoop1611
harka1616
hark away1737
yoax1762
tally-ho1773
yoicks1774
yoick1781
gone away1795
hyke1823
to-ho1825
yoi1826
heu-gase1827
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > voice or vocal sound > cry or shout (loudness) > cry or shout [interjection] > specific shout > in hunting or hawking
soho1307
see-hoa1500
stowc1520
hoicks1607
loo1608
whoo-whoop1611
harka1616
stoo1673
illow1688
hark away1737
yoicks1774
a1616 W. Shakespeare Tempest (1623) iv. i. 255 Pro. [setting on dogs] Fury, Fury: there Tyrant, there: harke, harke. Goe, charge my Goblins that they grinde their ioynts.
b. hark away, hark forward, hark in, hark off: to proceed or go away, forward, in, draw off.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > hunting > signals > cry [interjection] > cry
soho1307
sa-ha1606
whoo-whoop1611
harka1616
hark away1737
yoax1762
tally-ho1773
yoicks1774
yoick1781
gone away1795
hyke1823
to-ho1825
yoi1826
heu-gase1827
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > voice or vocal sound > cry or shout (loudness) > cry or shout [interjection] > specific shout > in hunting or hawking
soho1307
see-hoa1500
stowc1520
hoicks1607
loo1608
whoo-whoop1611
harka1616
stoo1673
illow1688
hark away1737
yoicks1774
1737 M. Green Spleen 83 Exulting at the hark-away.
1743 D. Garrick Lethe i, in Wks. (1798) I. 20 All hie to the midnight hark-away.
1786 Lounger No. 87. 300 I have not forgotten..the encouraging Hark forward to a cautious hound.
1802 R. Bloomfield Rural Tales 101 Ye peaceful Streams that wind along, Repeat the Hark-away.
1816 ‘Quiz’ Grand Master viii. 228 Hark! forward, sportsmen—'tis the same.
1824 J. Mactaggart Sc. Gallovidian Encycl. at Haurk When the hunter hears by them [terriers] the situation they are in, he bawls down to haurk to him, haurk to him, ye wee blasties.
1826 Sporting Mag. 17 270 The word was given ‘Yoi—hark in, hark’.
1834 R. E. Egerton-Warburton Hunting Songs 24 Away! Hark, away!..Ne'er slacken your pace.
1844 B. Disraeli Coningsby I. i. v. 56 I think the hounds are too hot to hark off now.
c. hark back v. Of hounds: To return along the course taken, when the scent has been lost, till it is found again; hence figurative to retrace one's course or steps; to return, revert; to return to some earlier point in a narrative, discussion, or argument.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > memory > retrospection, reminiscence > look back, retrospect [verb (intransitive)] > return to a topic
returnc1405
resortc1425
relent?c1500
recur1620
remountc1740
to tread back one's steps1777
hark back1829
the world > food and drink > hunting > hunting with hounds > work done by hounds > action of hounds [verb (intransitive)] > search for game or scent
questa1425
umbecast1470
range1618
hark back1829
1829 Sporting Mag. 24 175 I must ‘hark back’, as we say in the chace.
1868 ‘H. Lee’ Basil Godfrey's Caprice xli. 225 Basil must needs hark back on the subject of the papers.
1877 C. T. Cruttwell Lit. Hist. Early Christianity 223 The mind of Lucretius harks back to the glorious period of creative enthusiasm.
1882 R. L. Stevenson J. Knox in Familiar Stud. Men & Bks. 349 He has to hark back again to find the scent of his argument.
1895 F. Hall Two Trifles 31 To hark back to scientist..I am ready to pit it against your agnostic.
d. transitive. hark on, hark forward: to urge on with encouraging cries. hark back: to recall.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > motivation > motivate [verb (transitive)] > incite or instigate > urge on or incite > vocally
to cheer on1577
word1602
halloo1606
loo1667
chirrup1785
hark on1813
yell1851
hark forward1865
society > authority > command > command or bidding > command [verb (transitive)] > summon > back
again-callc1390
revokec1425
rescrya1450
countermand1464
renvoy1477
reappeal1480
repeala1500
remand1525
recall1567
reclaim1590
return1590
speed1606
to call back1611
hark back1813
withcall1901
1813 J. Hogg Queen's Wake ii. xiii. 188 And she herked on her ravening crew.
1834 H. Taylor Philip van Artevelde i. i. 9 There is but one that harks me back.
1852 W. M. Thackeray Henry Esmond II. ix. 157 Yelling and harking his bloody war-dogs on.
1865 G. W. Dasent Jest & Earnest (1873) I. 209 He..harked forward his packs of hounds with a cheer.
e. hark after v. to go after, to follow.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > progressive motion > order of movement > following behind > follow behind [verb (intransitive)]
followOE
to follow ona1325
suec1390
ensuec1500
to follow alonga1594
tag1676
hark after1899
1899 B. Tarkington Gentleman from Indiana vii. 109 Men were running around a corner of the court-house, and the women and children were harking after.
5. intransitive. To speak in one's ear; to whisper or mutter. Scottish and northern dialect.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > information > action of informing > give information [verb (intransitive)] > special or private
winka1500
hark?a1600
whisper1850
tip1903
to pull a person's coat1946
?a1600 ( R. Sempill Legend Bischop St. Androis in J. Cranstoun Satirical Poems Reformation (1891) I. xlv. 358 Auld Captane Kirkburne to him harkit.
a1689 W. Cleland Coll. Poems (1697) 99 Then some began to hark and rown.
1785 W. Forbes Dominie Depos'd 38 (Jam.) Then whispering low to me she harked.
1851 Gloss. Provinc. Words Cumberland Hark, to whisper and to listen.
Derivatives
ˈharking n. and adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > [noun] > listening
hearkeningc1000
hearinga1225
listening13..
audiencec1405
earc1503
harking1530
exaudition1617
auscultation1634
listen1788
the mind > mental capacity > memory > retrospection, reminiscence > [noun]
reminiscion1607
afterview1632
retro-aspect1638
retrospection1654
harking1885
reminiscing1895
time travelling1934
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 229/1 Harkyng, escout, audience.
1582 R. Stanyhurst tr. Virgil First Foure Bookes Æneis ii. 25 Thee les he furth pratled, thee more wee longed in harcking.
1699 B. E. New Dict. Canting Crew Harking [1785 Grose, Hark-ye-ing], whispering on one side to borrow Money.
1885 Lady Greville Creatures of Clay I. xvii The sense that I was bound to another woman would prevent any vain harkings back.
ˈharker n. Scottish a listener.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > [noun] > hearer or listener
hearera1340
hearkener1340
auditorc1386
intelligent1508
audient1550
listener1611
auditress1667
harker1825
describee1830
sayeea1902
1825 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. Suppl. at *Harker Harkers never heard a gude word of themselves.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1898; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1737
v.c1175