Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Hear?

\Hear\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Heard}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Hearing}.] [OE. heren, AS,. hi['e]ran, h?ran, h?ran; akin to OS. h?rian, OFries. hera, hora, D. hooren, OHG. h?ren, G. h["o]ren, Icel. heyra, Sw: h["o]ra, Dan. hore, Goth. hausjan, and perh. to Gr. ?, E. acoustic. Cf. {Hark}, {Hearken}.] 1. To perceive by the ear; to apprehend or take cognizance of by the ear; as, to hear sounds; to hear a voice; to hear one call. Lay thine ear close to the ground, and list if thou canst hear the tread of travelers. --Shak. He had been heard to utter an ominous growl. --Macaulay. 2. To give audience or attention to; to listen to; to heed; to accept the doctrines or advice of; to obey; to examine; to try in a judicial court; as, to hear a recitation; to hear a class; the case will be heard to-morrow. 3. To attend, or be present at, as hearer or worshiper; as, to hear a concert; to hear Mass. 4. To give attention to as a teacher or judge. Thy matters are good and right, but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee. --2 Sam. xv. 3. I beseech your honor to hear me one single word. --Shak. 5. To accede to the demand or wishes of; to listen to and answer favorably; to favor. I love the Lord, because he hath heard my voice. --Ps. cxvi. 1. They think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. --Matt. vi. 7. {Hear him}. See Remark, under {Hear}, v. i. {To hear a bird sing}, to receive private communication. [Colloq.] --Shak. {To hear say}, to hear one say; to learn by common report; to receive by rumor. [Colloq.]
\Hear\, v. i. 1. To have the sense or faculty of perceiving sound. ``The Hearing ear.'' --Prov. xx. 12. 2. To use the power of perceiving sound; to perceive or apprehend by the ear; to attend; to listen. So spake our mother Eve, and Adam heard, Well pleased, but answered not. --Milton. 3. To be informed by oral communication; to be told; to receive information by report or by letter. I have heard, sir, of such a man. --Shak. I must hear from thee every day in the hour. --Shak. {To hear ill}, to be blamed. [Obs.] Not only within his own camp, but also now at Rome, he heard ill for his temporizing and slow proceedings. --Holland. {To hear well}, to be praised. [Obs.] Note: Hear, or Hear him, is often used in the imperative, especially in the course of a speech in English assemblies, to call attention to the words of the speaker. Hear him, . . . a cry indicative, according to the tone, of admiration, acquiescence, indignation, or derision. --Macaulay.