Definition of hark

The origin of the word "hark" can be traced back to Old English, where it was spelled as "hergan" and pronounced as "hærgæn". The exact meaning of the word during this time is unclear, but it is believed to have been derived from a Germanic stem "harg-" or "hark-", meaning "to heed" or "to hear". In Middle English, the spelling of "hark" changed to "herk" and its pronunciation evolved to "her(c)". During this period, the word started to be used as an imperative, meaning "listen". The spelling of "hark" as we know it today emerged in Early Modern English, around the 16th century. The verb "hark" gradually became less commonly used, with "hear" being the preferred choice for listening in modern English. However, "hark" survived as an interjection, used to signal a sudden change in direction or to call for attention. Today, "hark!" is still used in poetry, literature, and dramatic scene-setting to add emphasis or instructions to the audience or characters. In summary, the origin of the word "hark" can be traced back to Old English, where it was a verb meaning "to heed" or "to hear". Its etymology can be linked to the Germanic stem "harg-" or "hark-", and it evolved to become an imperative and then an interjection in Middle and Early Modern English, continuing to be used today in these latter two senses.