listenn.
/ˈlɪsn/, U.S. /ˈlɪsn/ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > [noun] > faculty or sense of hearing
earOE
listc1000
heartha1325
listenc1400
audition1599
c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness l. 586 He þat fetly in face fettled alle eres If he has losed the lysten hit lyftez meruayle.
2.
a. The action or an act of listening; a spell of listening or attentive hearing. Also listen-out (after look-out). Chiefly in on or upon the listen: in the act of listening.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > [noun] > listening
hearkeningc1000
hearinga1225
listening13..
audiencec1405
earc1503
harking1530
exaudition1617
auscultation1634
listen1788
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > [adverb] > listening
on or upon the listen1788
the mind > attention and judgement > attention > notice, observation > [adjective] > listening attentively
listeninga1275
attending1599
whole-eared1681
on or upon the listen1788
wide-eared1866
ear-bending1912
1788 ‘Aspasia’ in Amer. Museum iv. 565 Every time the door opens, or a foot is on the stairs, you are on the listen.
1803 M. Charlton Wife & Mistress (ed. 2) II. 151 They are always upon the listen in this house.
1807 tr. Three Germans I. 6 Not the faintest..sound..reached their attentive listen.
1807 tr. Three Germans II. 30 He remained upon the silent listen.
1819 W. Cobbett Year's Resid. U.S.A. ii. xii. 255 The anxious listen, the wistful look, and the dropping tear, of the disconsolate dams.
1834 J. Wilson in Blackwood's Mag. 36 729 They were alarmed, as they kept a listen-out, by an incessant barking.
1840 New Monthly Mag. 59 397 Mrs. Hawkey is..clearing her throat for a long talk, myself settled down..for a long listen.
1884 G. M. Fenn Sweet Mace II. xiii. 223 She was often on the watch, and always on the listen.
1935 World-Radio 5 July 9/1 People like me, who..are constantly on the listen with half an ear for something.
1968 J. Philips Hot Summer Killing (1969) iii. ii. 138 Take a listen while I try to find Jerry.
1968 C. Watson Charity ends at Home x. 122 So what I did was to pull off to the side and have a proper listen under the lid.
1970 P. Bair Tribunal ii. i. 60 ‘Did you have a nice talk?’ ‘I had a long listen.’
1971 It 2 June 19/3 Give it a listen.
b. listen-in n. a period of listening to a broadcast, telephone conversation, etc. Cf. listen v. 2e.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > [noun] > listening > to recording
listen-in1922
1922 Daily Mail 30 Nov. 7 A listen-in. The Queen..listened to a recitation sent out from Marconi House.
1946 Philadelphia Bulletin 1 Aug. 3 An occasional listen-in on the..[telephone] line later convinced company men.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1903; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
listenv.
/ˈlɪsn/, U.S. /ˈlɪsn/ 1. † b. With two objects: To hear (something) from (a person). Obsolete.
a. transitive. To hear attentively; to give ear to; to pay attention to (a person speaking or what is said). Now archaic and poetic.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > hear [verb (intransitive)] > listen
listenc950
hearkena1000
listc1000
lithea1225
yliþea1300
intendc1380
hear1382
to have or give a lista1400
to give audience (to)c1405
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > hear [verb (transitive)] > listen to
listenc950
hearOE
hearkenc1000
listc1175
to-heara1250
tend1340
attenda1400
to lay ear toa1400
receivea1425
intenda1500
ear1582
exhause1599
auscultate1892
catch1906
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
c950 Lindisf. Gosp. Matt. xiii. 18 Gie forðon geheras vel lysnas bisena ðæs sauende.
c1220 Bestiary 398 Listneð nu a wunder.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 12540 Þa heo hafden longe i-lustned þan kinge.
a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 2137 King pharaon listnede hise red.
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 4607 Ladis & oþer lordes lesteneþ now my sawe!
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 20590 Listnes þe bone þat scho him bad.
?1476 J. Paston in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) I. 604 If it lyke you to lysten hym.
c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 8421 Lystyn my wordes.
a1592 R. Greene Hist. Orlando Furioso (1594) sig. Diii What messenger hath Ate sent abroad, With idle lookes to listen my laments?
1637 J. Milton Comus 19 At which I ceas't, and listen'd them a while.
1796 R. Southey Joan of Arc v. 310 The tale of all the ills she hath endured I listen.
1823 Ld. Byron Don Juan: Canto XIII xlviii. 79 Listening debates not very wise or witty.
1830 Ld. Tennyson Ode to Memory iii, in Poems 60 Listening the lordly music flowing from The illimitable years.
ΚΠ
c1330 R. Mannyng Chron. (1810) 288 Þe chance listnes me.
2. figurative.1842 Ld. Tennyson Godiva in Poems (new ed.) II. 114 The deep air listen'd round her as she rode.† d. to listen one's ears (or an ear) to: = 1b. Obsolete.
a. intransitive. To give attention with the ear to some sound or utterance; to make an effort to hear something; to ‘give ear’.
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
c1225 Leg. Kath. 785 We schulen lustnin hu þi lauerd & ti leof..wule werien to dei þine leasunges.
a1275 Prov. Ælfred 212 in Old Eng. Misc. 115 Lustlike lustine [v.r. lustnie; earlier text Lvsteþ]..lef dere.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 13155 He lustnede [c1300 Otho luste] ȝeorne.
c1315 Shoreham i. 2091 Nou lestne.
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 1929 Now listenes, lef lordes, þis lessoun þus i ginne.
14.. in T. Wright & R. P. Wülcker Anglo-Saxon & Old Eng. Vocab. (1884) I. 566/1 Asculto, to lystny.
c1450 (c1400) Sowdon of Babylon (1881) l. 20 Listinythe a while and ye shall see.
1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) vi. 72 He..lisnyt [1489 Adv. lysnyt] full ententily Gif he oucht herd of thare cummyng.
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 612/2 Lysten at the crevysse if thou cannest here any by [sic] steryng.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost v. 627 And in thir motions harmonie Divine So smooths her charming tones, that Gods own ear Listens delighted. View more context for this quotation
1703 W. Burkitt Expos. Notes New Test. Mark i. 45 Christ..doth not stay in the Crowd with his Ear open to listen how Men admire the Preacher.
1781 W. Cowper Retirem. 448 A man..Who..Speaks with reserve, and listens with applause.
1875 G. W. Dasent Vikings I. xii. 162 Every one listened what he would add to such a clever beginning.
1875 B. Jowett tr. Plato Dialogues (ed. 2) I. 323 They will be sure to listen if they find that you are a good speaker.
b. Const. to (unto): to give ear to (= sense 1); also, in extended sense, to give heed to, allow oneself to be persuaded by.
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
the mind > language > speech > agreement > consent > consent to [verb (transitive)] > concede to or comply with
granta1250
i-yettc1275
listenc1290
to listen onc1330
submita1387
consent1393
tenderc1430
servec1450
ottroye1477
admit1529
yield1572
closea1616
concede1632
comply1650
to fall in1651
to come into ——1704
give way1758
accordc1820
c1290 S. Eng. Leg. I. 462/2 Lustniez nouþe to mi speche.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 6451 (heading) Listens nou vnto mi saw.
a1500 (?c1450) Merlin i. 11 The holy man lestned well to all hir confession.
1611 Bible (King James) Isa. xlix. 1.
a1616 W. Shakespeare King John (1623) iii. i. 124 King Philip, listen to the Cardinall. View more context for this quotation
a1661 T. Fuller Worthies (1662) Durh. 295 Lissen to Mr. Cambden his Character of him.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost vi. 908 List'n not to his Temptations. View more context for this quotation
1748 B. Robins & R. Walter Voy. round World by Anson i. i. 8 These officers..were much listened to by some considerable persons.
1856 J. A. Froude Hist. Eng. (1858) I. v. 375 Henry must have been compelled to listen to many such invectives.
1883 J. A. Froude Short Stud. IV. i. xi. 139 Boys and girls found him always ready to listen to their small distresses.
c. †to listen of: to hear tell of. †to listen on = listen to. to listen for, †after: to be eager or make an effort to catch the sound of; to endeavour to hear or to hear of. to listen out, to listen for a sound, e.g. on a radio receiver.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > hear [verb (transitive)] > hear tell of
to listen ofc1330
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
the mind > language > speech > agreement > consent > consent to [verb (transitive)] > concede to or comply with
granta1250
i-yettc1275
listenc1290
to listen onc1330
submita1387
consent1393
tenderc1430
servec1450
ottroye1477
admit1529
yield1572
closea1616
concede1632
comply1650
to fall in1651
to come into ——1704
give way1758
accordc1820
society > communication > information > news or tidings > [verb (intransitive)] > obtain tidings
to listen forth, out1596
to listen out1600
the mind > attention and judgement > attention > notice, observation > observe, note [verb (transitive)] > listen attentively, heed > in expectation
to listen for, after1600
to listen out1910
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > hear [verb (intransitive)] > listen > listen for a sound
to listen out1910
c1330 (?a1300) Sir Tristrem (1886) l. 402 Of a prince proude in play Listneþ, lordinges dere.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 22431 If ȝe of þaim will listen a trau, I sal ȝu tell of þaim sothsau.
?a1400 J. Lydgate Chorle & Bird (Roxb.) 14 To heere of wisedom thyn eeres ben half deef Lyke an asse that lystneth on an harpe.
1600 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 2 i. i. 29 Here comes my seruant Trauers who I sent..to listen after newes. View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 2 (1623) i. iii. 152 I will..listen after Humfrey, how he proceedes. View more context for this quotation
1641 R. Carpenter Experience, Hist., & Divinitie Pref. sig. B3 I beg..that they will so farre listen after me..as to take notice..what becomes of me.
1642 T. Fuller Holy State iii. iv. 160 Scholars listen after Libraries, Disputations, and Professours.
1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones IV. x. vi. 53 She pricks up her Ears to listen after the Voice of her Pursuer. View more context for this quotation
1859 Ld. Tennyson Elaine in Idylls of King 192 The sick man..Would listen for her coming.
1859 Ld. Tennyson Enid in Idylls of King 10 While they listen'd for the distant hunt.
1871 F. W. Farrar Witness of Hist. i. 26 Then must science and civilisation listen for the voice of a new deliverer.
1910 A. Bennett Clayhanger iii. v. 362 Don't latch the door. Pull it to. I'll listen out.
1945 Tee Emm (Air Ministry) 5 35 Owing to the fact that they were listening out on channel ‘A’ instead of channel ‘B’, he failed to make contact.
1946 L. E. O. Charlton Britain at War: R.A.F. & U.S.A.A.F., July 1943–Sept. 1944 21 (caption) This photograph..depicts a scene in the flying control room—‘listening out’ to bring the Lancasters back to base.
1959 Listener 16 July 111/3 Initially I was afraid that the work would founder in an over-poetic fog but Mr. Bradnum was worth listening out for.
1971 J. Wainwright Last Buccaneer i. 49 We need receiving equipment to listen-out—to pinpoint every wavelength.
1974 ‘D. Kyle’ Raft of Swords xiii. 140 He searched the air waves... For several days he had ‘listened out’ to a Russian ship with three operators aboard.
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
a1533 Ld. Berners tr. A. de Guevara Golden Bk. M. Aurelius (1546) sig. Y.iv I neuer..lystened myne eares to murmures.
1579 L. Tomson tr. J. Calvin Serm. Epist. S. Paule to Timothie & Titus 726/2 If we listen our eares to obey that that is shewed vs here.
a1656 J. Ussher Ann. World (1658) 559 The Citizens would by no means lissen an eare to the accusation.
e. to listen in, to listen to a broadcast programme, etc.; to listen secretly to a telephone conversation. Also const. to, on, and transferred.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > hear [verb (intransitive)] > listen > listen to broadcast or recording
to listen in1905
listen1929
society > communication > broadcasting > radio broadcasting > [verb (intransitive)] > listen to radio broadcast
to listen in1905
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > hear [verb (intransitive)] > listen > eavesdrop > on telephone
to listen in1905
rubber1905
1905 Electrician 20 Jan. 532/1 At the end of the first section the operator on the ship listened in for a reply. At last he took off the telephone.
1915 A. F. Collins Bk. Wireless p. vii A boy sitting..at home with..a telephone receiver to his ear listening-in to the news of the world.
1920 Wireless World Jan. 594/2 While ‘listening-in’, the switch..is placed over to the right.
1922 Westm. Gaz. 25 Oct. In a fortnight or so a million subscribers at 10s. each a year will be ‘listening in’.
1926 Daily Chron. 13 May 3/1 By the primitive process of passing it from lip to lip the news sped ‘like wildfire’ amongst the London millions who were not listening in, but were just sitting in their offices or lunching in the restaurants, or walking about the streets.
1928 Chambers's Jrnl. Jan. 27/2 None of us could help ‘listening in’ to the fun that was going on in the kitchen.
1931 Boys' Mag. 45 99/2 Patients..are able to listen-in to the Radio programmes by means of headphones.
1939 M. B. Lowndes Diary 5 Oct. (1971) 180 I asked him if he ever listened in, whereupon he said in an explosive tone: ‘never’. I observed that one learnt a great deal from listening in.
1973 ‘H. Carmichael’ Too Late for Tears xv. 175 His wife wasn't involved... If she had been she wouldn't have wanted us to listen-in on that phone conversation.
1973 ‘M. Innes’ Appleby's Answer v. 49 They have forgotten about you and resumed their tittle-tattle. Whereupon you listen in.
1973 Radio Times 15 Nov. 73/3 For thousands of children..who ‘listened in’ each Friday afternoon, Romany was the countryside.
f. spec. To listen to a broadcast programme.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > hear [verb (intransitive)] > listen > listen to broadcast or recording
to listen in1905
listen1929
1929 Radio Times 8 Nov. 395/3 We sat listening..with a portable set.
1935 World-Radio 5 July 19/3 (advt.) Below 100 Metres, Listen to the World.
1936 B.B.C. Empire Broadcasting 2 Dec. 2/3 Your greeting, Big Ben, and then the National Anthem, moved us profoundly—it took quite a time to listen without real emotion.
1936 B.B.C. Empire Broadcasting 9 Dec. 2/1 Whenever there was a sporting commentary a host of people used to come to my bungalow to listen.
1946 B.B.C. Year-bk. 11 With the restoration of peace there was a natural tendency for the citizens of other countries to listen, at first, only to their own newly freed broadcasting services.
1970 B.B.C. Handbk. 98 There is magic in ensuring that most people in the world can listen in a language they can really understand.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > information > news or tidings > [verb (intransitive)] > obtain tidings
to listen forth, out1596
to listen out1600
1596 W. Warner Albions Eng. (rev. ed.) xii. lxxiv. 302 For Mandeuil they seeke, and him at last did listen forth.
1599 George a Greene sig. A3 Come, Bonfield, let vs goe, And listen out some bonny lasses here.
1599 George a Greene sig. D4v Ienkin,..Goe to Bradford, And listen out your fellow Wily.
4. intransitive. To sound (in a certain way). Frequently with to = to strike (one) as. Also in the colloquial phrase to listen good: to sound promising. U.S.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > thing heard > make sound [verb (intransitive)] > convey an impression by sound
soundc1374
listen1908
1908 K. McGaffey Sorrows of Show Girl 78 That listened very well indeed, and we all climbed into a cabbage and vamped over.
1912 C. Mathewson Pitching in Pinch vii. 143 All is fair in love, war, and baseball except stealing signals dishonestly, which listens like another paradox.
1916 H. L. Wilson Somewhere in Red Gap vi. 252 That listens good to her till she finds she has to give fifty-two dollars for the deck first.
1923 R. D. Paine Comrades Rolling Ocean xiv. 250 Here's where I slip it out..to help square the repair bill for my joy-ride. How does it listen to you?
1923 L. J. Vance Baroque xxvii. 174 [It] don't listen reasonable to me.
1945 H. L. Mencken Amer. Lang. Suppl. I. 317 It has been suggested ..that it listens well may be from es hört sich gut an.
Draft additions 1997
slang (chiefly U.S.). to listen up, to listen carefully, pay attention. Usually in imperative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > hear [verb (intransitive)] > listen > listen attentively
to lift up one's ears1548
to prick up one's ears1682
to cock one's ears1700
to listen up1933
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
1933 E. Dooley Under Goal Posts i. 7 The players hurriedly gathered around him... His sharp eyes scanned the faces of his charges. ‘Listen up!’ he barked.
1970 W. C. Woods Killing Zone (1971) ii. 23 Now you men knock off the goddam chatter in there and listen up.
1973 T. O'Brien If I die in Combat Zone vii. 68 I got me two purple hearts, so listen up good.
1980 W. Safire in N.Y. Times Mag. 28 Sept. 16/2 ‘I'm only going to say this once, so listen up.’ A Washington Star sportswriter put that now-hear-this command in the mouth of an imaginary pro-football star.
1986 T. Clancy Red Storm Rising (1988) xix. 244 Listen up, asshole! The guy who knows how to work this damned radio is dead, and I'm all you got.
1992 Metro (San Jose, Calif.) 7 May 37/1 I was struck by the feeling that the violence in L.A. was a graphic and chilling realization of the rage and frustration expressed by rappers..for a long time. Maybe now the suits in Washington will listen up.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1903; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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n.c1400
v.c950