English
hark
Hark comes from Middle English herken ‘to listen attentively, take heed’, from Proto-Germanic *hauzijaną ‘to hear’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱ- ‘sharp’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂eḱ-‘sharp’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂ḱh₂owsyéti‘to be sharp-eared’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*hauzijaną‘to hear’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*hauʀikōnreconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150*hercianreconstructed
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500herken‘to listen attentively, take heed’
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1596–1598hark
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂eḱ-‘sharp’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂ḱh₂owsyéti‘to be sharp-eared’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*hauzijaną‘to hear’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*hauʀikōnreconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150*hercianreconstructed
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500herken‘to listen attentively, take heed’
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1596–1598hark
Earliest quotation: c. 1596–1598, William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice: “But harke, I heare the footing of a man.”
Formed from hear + -k
Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱ- ‘sharp’
…
Proto-Germanic *hauzijaną ‘to hear’
Proto-West Germanic *hauʀijan ‘to hear’
Old English hēran ‘to hear’
Middle English har
English hear
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱ- ‘sharp’
edge, egg, acid, eager, acute, ear, hammer, axe, acne, oxide, mediocre, vinegar, acetate, mediocrity, acupuncture, acacia, exacerbate, acumen, acme, acuity, paragon, acyl, acrid, rosacea, acrimony, acerbic, exacerbation, roselle, 72 more
through Proto-Indo-European *h₂ḱh₂owsyéti ‘to be sharp-eared’
through Proto-Germanic *hauzijaną ‘to hear’
Today it means
verb To listen attentively.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱ- / hark