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for those of us who are linear minded, the fault lies in Anu's definition, which is a bit misdirecting. actually, the phrase hearken back takes the second meaning, as is perhaps better explained here:
http://www.bartleby.com/68/26/2926.html.
the "usually" as given in sense two probably just shortcuts an explanation such as: sometimes people leave off the back but the context tells you that they refer to something said or done earlier. well, it is mostly a poetic (non-linear?) usage these days.
p.s. - in looking for recent citations, I found one with what I thought to be an odd phrase:
Nowadays... musical comedies all seem to hearken back to Old Vienna or Gay Paree, and they don't exactly contribute to the gaiety of nations. -Guardian, Dec. 15, 1967
the gaiety of nations, the cheerfulness or pleasure of a large number of people; general gaiety or amusement (freq. used hyperbolically or ironically).
Entire Thread Subject Posted By Posted Word of the day..Hearken Angel 12/29/01 02:59 AM Re: Word of the day..Hearken Wordwind 12/29/01 01:23 PM Re: Word of the day..Hearken tsuwm 12/29/01 03:27 PM Re: Word of the day..Hearken wwh 12/29/01 03:55 PM Re: Word of the day..Hearken Keiva 12/29/01 04:19 PM Re: Word of the day..Hearken Wordwind 12/29/01 04:50 PM Re: Gilbert and Sull'v'n? AnnaStrophic 12/29/01 10:10 PM Re: Gilbert and Sull'v'n? Wordwind 12/30/01 01:29 AM Re: Word of the day..Hearken Angel 12/29/01 07:06 PM Re: Word of the day..Hearken Angel 12/29/01 07:23 PM Re: Word of the day..Hearken Faldage 12/29/01 08:50 PM
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