Hear
Origin
From Middle English heren, from Old English hēran, hȳran, hīeran ("to hear"), from Proto-Germanic *hauzijaną ("to hear"), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂ḱh₂owsyé-. Compare West Frisian hearre ("to hear"), Dutch horen ("to hear"), German hören ("to hear"), Danish høre ("to hear"), Icelandic heyra ("to hear").
Full definition of hear
Verb
- (intransitive) To perceive sounds through the ear. from 10th c.I was deaf, and now I can hear.
- (transitive) To perceive (a sound, or something producing a sound) with the ear, to recognize (something) in an auditory way. from 10th c.I heard a sound from outside the window.
- 1898, Winston Churchill, The Celebrity Chapter 4, Mr. Cooke at once began a tirade against the residents of Asquith for permitting a sandy and generally disgraceful condition of the roads. So roundly did he vituperate the inn management in particular, and with such a loud flow of words, that I trembled lest he should be heard on the veranda.
- (transitive) To exercise this faculty intentionally; to listen to. from 10th c.
- 1526, William Tyndale, trans. Bible, John X:Agayne there was dissencion amonge the iewes for these sayinges, and many of them sayd: He hath the devyll, and is madde: why heare ye hym?
- 1935, George Goodchild, Death on the Centre Court Chapter 3, It had been his intention to go to Wimbledon, but as he himself said: “Why be blooming well frizzled when you can hear all the results over the wireless. And results are all that concern me. …â€
- (transitive) To listen favourably to; to grant (a request etc.). from 10th c.Eventually the king chose to hear her entreaties.
- (transitive) To receive information about; to come to learn of. from 10th c.
- 1667, John Milton, Paradise Lost:Adam, soon as he heard
The fatal Trespass don by Eve, amaz'd,
Astonied stood and Blank .... - (transitive) To listen to (a person, case) in a court of law; to try. from 12th c.Your case will be heard at the end of the month.
- (transitive, informal) To sympathize with; to share the feeling or opinion of.You're tired of all the ads on TV? I hear ya.