hearken means to hear (something) with attention; to have regard to (something). Lexicurio rates it Rare gem — a strength score of 84 out of 100.
hearken is pronounced /ˈhɑːk(ə)n/.
Why “hearken” is a great word
HEARKEN — [Verb] To listen attentively, especially with a view to obeying or taking heed. From Middle English herkenen (to listen attentively), from Old English heorcnian, a suffixed form related to hark, from Proto-Germanic *hauzijaną (to hear), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂ḱh₂owsyéti (to be sharp-eared), from *h₂eḱ- (sharp) + *h₂ṓws (ear). The spelling was influenced by the word 'hear' in Early Modern English. Unlike "hear," which denotes the passive perception of sound, or "listen," a general effort to attend, to hearken is to cast the mind's ear forward with a posture of submission. It is the watchman at the citadel gate catching the faintest hoofbeat in the night, the disciple leaning into the whispered parable, or the child straining past the cricket-song for a parent's call from the dark yard—the ancient discipline of making oneself ready to be changed by what comes.
Etymology
From Middle English herkenen (“to listen (attentively); to pay attention, take heed”) [and other forms], from Old English hercnian, heorcnian, hyrcnian, from *heorcian (“to hark”) infixed with -n-, from Proto-West Germanic *hauʀijan, from Proto-Germanic *hauzijaną (“to hear”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂ḱh₂owsyéti (“to be sharp-eared, hear well”), from *h₂eḱ- (“sharp”) + *h₂ṓws (“ear”) + *-yéti (denominative suffix), thus equivalent to hark + -en.
The spelling of the English word was probably influenced by hear; a similarly analogical pronunciation existed in Early Modern English.
verb
- To hear (something) with attention; to have regard to (something).“Thenceforth ſhe paſt into his dreadfull den, / VVhere nought but darkeſome drerineſſe ſhe found, / Ne creature ſaw, but hearkned now and then / Some little whiſpering, and ſoft groaning ſound.”
- To listen; to attend or give heed to what is uttered; to hear with attention, compliance, or obedience.“Who ſo hearkeneth vnto me, ſhal not come to confuſion, & they that worke by me, ſhal not offende; [they that make me to be knowen, ſhal haue euerlaſting life.]”
- To enquire; to seek information.“Claudio. Hearken after their offence my Lord. / Prince. Officers, what offence haue theſe men done?”