behear

From be- (“at, about”) +‎ hear. Cognate with West Frisian beheare (“to administer; manage”), Dutch behoren (“to belong”).

behear (third-person singular simple present behears, present participle behearing, simple past and past participle beheard)

1. (transitive, chiefly dated) To give ear to; hear (intently); attend (to); pay attention or give heed to; listen to.
   • 1826, Robin Hood:

     All that beheard three witty young men, 'Twas Robin Hood, Scarlet, and John, […]

   • 1877, The Sunday magazine:

     In some incidental way he beheard him of the poor widow's difficulty, and at once the manhood in him asserted itself.

   • 1896, Edward Livermore Burlingame, Robert Bridges, Alfred Dashiell, Scribner's magazine, Volume 20:

     "Did you do it yoursel', Grizel ? God behears, she did it hersel!"

   • 1897, Robert Louis Stevenson, Lloyd Osbourne, Fanny Van de Grift Stevenson, The novels and tales of Robert Louis Stevenson:

     "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! […] "

   • 1901, A Book of romantic ballads:

     All that beheard his little footepage, As he watered his masters steed […]

   • 1911, Sir Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch, Brother Copas:

     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!

   • 1923, H. P. Lovecraft, The Conservative:

     A' this beheard a little footpage, Fast hid ahind a tree; An' he's awa' to seek his laird, Sae fast as he can hie.

   • 1972, Billboard - Aug 26, 1972:

     He has a touch so precise yet delicate that it is a joy to behear.

   • 1978, Jazz:

     We knew that feedback could affect the turntable/arm/cartridge resonances in ways unpleasant and unrealistic to behear. To our surprise, the Linn, compared against the est Japanese and European turntables, did sound better.

   • 1996, Musician:

     His cymbal wash during the five songs taken from a live Swedish radio broadcast is a wonder to behear.

   • 2008, The Wire:

     Still, this is a pretty joyous thing to behear.

   • 2012, Alan Goldsher, Modest Mouse:

     They worked completely in unison, doubling the parts in a mirror-like fashion that was a sight to behold and a sound to behear.