Etymograph

English

listen up

From listen + up.

A compound of listen + up

Proto-Indo-European *ḱlew- ‘to hear’

Proto-Germanic *hlusēną

Proto-Germanic *hlusnijaną

Old English hlysnan ‘to listen’

Middle English listenen

English listen

Proto-Germanic *upp ‘up’

Proto-West Germanic *upp

Old English upp

Middle English up ‘to a vertical axis’

English up

The story

First use appears c. 1933, although the exact date of its first use is uncertain.uncertain The source flags this step as uncertain.

Today it means

verb To listen closely; to pay attention.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / listen up