hear

English

/hɪə(ɹ)/, /hɪɹ/, /hjɜː/

verb
Definitions
  • (intransitive) To perceive sounds through the ear.
  • (transitive) To perceive (a sound, or something producing a sound) with the ear, to recognize (something) in an auditory way.
  • (transitive) To exercise this faculty intentionally; to listen to.
  • (transitive) To listen favourably to; to grant (a request etc.).
  • (transitive) To receive information about; to come to learn of.
  • (with from) To be contacted by.
  • (transitive) To listen to (a person, case) in a court of law; to try.
  • (transitive) To sympathize with; to understand the feelings or opinion of.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English heren inherited from Old English hīeran (hear) inherited from Proto-Germanic *hauzijaną (hear) inherited from Proto-Indo-European *h₂ḱh₂owsyéti (be sharp-eared, hear well).

Origin

Proto-Indo-European

*h₂ḱh₂owsyéti

Gloss

be sharp-eared, hear well

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms