behear
verbEtymology From be- (“at, about”) + hear. Cognate with Scots behere, behear (“to hear, hear our cry”), West Frisian beheare (“to administer; manage”), Dutch behoren (“to belong”).
1
Dated To give ear to; hear (intently); attend (to); pay attention or give heed to; listen to.
- All that beheard three witty young men, 'Twas Robin Hood, Scarlet, and John, […]1826, Robin Hood, (Please provide the book title or journal name):
- In some incidental way he beheard him of the poor widow's difficulty, and at once the manhood in him asserted itself.1877, The Sunday magazine:
4 more examples
- "Did you do it yoursel', Grizel ? God behears, she did it hersel!"1896, Edward Livermore Burlingame, Robert Bridges, Alfred Dashiell, Scribner's magazine, Volume 20:
- "The good Lord behear!" he exclaimed, stood stock-still for a moment, and waddled off at top speed towards the back door. "We must tell Aunt at once! […]"1897, Robert Louis Stevenson, Lloyd Osbourne, Fanny Van de Grift Stevenson, The novels and tales of Robert Louis Stevenson:
- All that beheard his little footepage, As he watered his masters steed […]1901, A Book of romantic ballads
- Or behear ye the sheep, to the husbanding rams how they bleat to the shade! Or behear ye the birds, at the Goddess' command how they sing unafraid!1911, Sir Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch, Brother Copas: