hear English · revision 3552

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=before 800 (Old English hēran)|origins=gem-pro *hauzijaną}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /hɪə/, US /hɪr/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|heren]], [[inh|ang|hīeran]] (Anglian [[m|ang|hēran]]),^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002) from [[gem-pro|*hauzijaną]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) Its cognates include [[ofs|hēra]], [[osx|hōrian]], [[nl|horen]], [[de|hören]] and [[non|heyra]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) and Gothic has hausjan.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) Etymonline notes that the change of -s- to -r- is regular in some Germanic languages.^(Etymonline) The root is [[ine-pro|*kous-|t=to hear]], also the source of Greek [[m|grc|ἀκούω|tr=akoúō|t=to hear]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) and Klein and the AHD connect it with [[m|ine-pro|*(s)keu-|t=to observe, perceive]], the root of [[show]].^(Klein 1966)^(AHD 2000) Merriam-Webster also compares Latin [[m|la|cavēre|t=to be on guard]].^(MW Collegiate)^(MWU 2024) It is related to [[acoustic]], [[hark]] and [[hearken]].^(Klein 1966)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Old English ''hēran'' is recorded before 800,^(Barnhart 1988) and the OED's first examples, “to perceive sound” and “to perceive with the ear”, are from about 950.^(OED 1989) Middle English ''heren'' appears in 1127.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Old English the word also meant “to obey”, a sense that lasted until about 1710,^(HTOED) and “to be subject to” until about 1300.^(HTOED) “To listen to, give attention to”, “to learn by being told” and “to judge, try a case” are also Old English.^(Etymonline)^(HTOED) ''Hearsay'', from the phrase ''by hearing say'', dates from about 1330^(OED 1989) and became a word in the 16th century.^(Hoad 1986) ''Like to hear oneself talk'' is from 1592.^(OED 1989) In the 17th century, scholars such as Milton used the Latin idiom ''hear well'' or ''hear ill'', “to be praised or blamed”.^(Trench 1859) ''Hear! hear!'', a cry of approval, is from 1768.^(HTOED)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 800 – Old English ''hēran''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 950 – to perceive sound.^(OED 1989)

+ * Old English – to obey (until about 1710).^(HTOED)

+ * 1127 – Middle English ''heren''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1330 – ''by hearing say'', hearsay.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1592 – ''like to hear oneself speak''.^(OED 1989)

+ * 17th century – ''hear ill'', to be blamed (Milton).^(Trench 1859)

+ * 1768 – ''hear! hear!''.^(HTOED)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To perceive sound with the ear; to be able to do so.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # To learn by hearing; to be told.^(AHD)^(HTOED)

+ # To listen to attentively.^(AHD)^(HTOED)

+ # To listen to in an official capacity, as a judge does a case.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To listen to and grant: ''hear our prayer''.^(AHD)

+ # To receive news: ''hear from someone''.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[hearer]]

+ * [[hearable]]

+ * [[hark]]

+ * [[hearsay]]

+ * [[mishear]]

+ * [[outhear]]

+ * [[overhear]]

+ * [[rehear]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[hearing]]

+ * [[hearken]]

+ * [[acoustic]]

+ * [[show]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}