From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Listen \Lis"ten\ (l[i^]s"'n), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Listened
(l[i^]s"'nd); p. pr. & vb. n. Listening.] [OE. listnen,
listen, lustnen, lusten, AS. hlystan; akin to hlyst hearing,
OS. hlust, Icel. hlusta to listen, hlust ear, AS. hlosnian to
wait in suspense, OHG. hlos[=e]n to listen, Gr. kly`ein, and
E. loud. [root]41. See Loud, and cf. List to listen.]
1. To give close attention with the purpose of hearing; to
give ear; to hearken; to attend.
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When we have occasion to listen, and give a more
particular attention to some sound, the tympanum is
drawn to a more than ordinary tension. --Holder.
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2. To give heed; to yield to advice; to follow admonition; to
obey.
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Listen to me, and by me be ruled. --Tennyson.
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To listen after, to take an interest in. [Obs.]
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Soldiers note forts, armories, and magazines;
scholars listen after libraries, disputations, and
professors. --Fuller.
Syn: To attend; hearken. See Attend.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Listen \Lis"ten\, v. t.
To attend to. [Obs.] --Shak.
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From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
listen
v 1: hear with intention; "Listen to the sound of this cello"
2: listen and pay attention; "Listen to your father"; "We must
hear the expert before we make a decision" [syn: listen,
hear, take heed]
3: pay close attention to; give heed to; "Heed the advice of the
old men" [syn: heed, mind, listen]