Where does “behearken” come from?
behearken (English) comes from English hearken, from English hark, from Middle English herken, from Old English hercian, from Proto-Germanic hauzakōną, from Proto-Germanic hauzijaną, from Proto-Indo-European h₂ḱh₂owsyéti, from Proto-Indo-European h₂ṓws — to enjoy; to consume; to perceive, see, to be...
behearken (English): To listen to; hearken to; observe; obey
Definitions
- To listen to; hearken to; observe; obey
Ancestry of “behearken”, step by step
behearken traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English hearken
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | hearken | To hear with attention; to have regard to; To... |
| 2 | English | hark | To listen attentively; A whisper |
| 3 | Middle English | herken | to listen attentively, take heed |
| 4 | Old English | hercian | — |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | hauzakōną | — |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | hauzijaną | to hear |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂ḱh₂owsyéti | to be sharp-eared, to hear well |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂ṓws | ear |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂ew- | to enjoy; to consume; to perceive, see, to be... |
via English Be
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Be | As an auxiliary verb |
| 2 | Middle English | be | Alternative form of been; Alternative form of... |
| 3 | Old English | bēo | I become, I will be, I am; bee |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | biumi | first-person singular present active indicative... |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | *beuną | — |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰew- | to grow, swell; to swell, wax, grow; to blow; to... |