hearkening
Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)
Hearken \Heark"en\ (h[aum]rk"'n), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Hearkened (-'nd); p. pr. & vb. n. Hearkening.] [OE. hercnen, hercnien, AS. hercnian, heorcnian, fr. hi['e]ran, h[=y]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. [1913 Webster]
The Furies hearken, and their snakes uncurl.— Dryden.[1913 Webster]
Hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you.— Deut. iv. 1.[1913 Webster]
2.To inquire; to seek information. [Obs.] "Hearken after their offense." --Shak.
Syn: To attend; listen; hear; heed. See Attend, v. i. [1913 Webster]