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What is "overhear"

Crossword clues for overhear

overhear
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
overhear
verb
COLLOCATIONS FROM CORPUS
■ NOUN
conversation
▪ Some one could follow you home after overhearing your conversation.
▪ I think I must have overheard telephone conversations about Margarett getting drunk and late-night parties at Prides.
▪ Rostov wondered if the Manchu had overheard the conversation, but he gave no sign.
▪ Hansel overheard the conversation and prepared for the inevitable by filling his pockets with pebbles.
▪ I overheard his name in conversation.
▪ People overhear conversations, what people have bought, what money they have.
▪ The man claims he overheard cockpit conversation about mechanical problems, not paperwork.
■ VERB
help
▪ Marc was gazing out of the window, but he couldn't help overhearing her side of the conversation.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
▪ an overheard conversation
▪ Claire, who was outside the door, overheard their conversation.
▪ I couldn't help overhearing you and Jim last night - is something wrong?
▪ She claims to have overheard an argument between the President and the First Lady.
▪ We overheard Jenny and her friends talking about their boyfriends last night.
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
▪ A fellow trader talking to another thrift president on another line overheard DiNapoli and cracked up.
▪ Anyone who overhears or intercepts the key in transit can later read all encrypted messages using that key.
▪ I think I must have overheard telephone conversations about Margarett getting drunk and late-night parties at Prides.
▪ Marc was gazing out of the window, but he couldn't help overhearing her side of the conversation.
▪ Rostov wondered if the Manchu had overheard the conversation, but he gave no sign.
▪ Their strategy was overheard on a police scanner that was able to intercept cellular phone transmissions.
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Overhear

Overhear \O`ver*hear"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Overheard; p. pr. & vb. n. Overhearing.] [AS. oferhi['e]ran.]

  1. To hear more of (anything) than was intended to be heard; to hear by accident or artifice.
    --Shak.

  2. To hear again.
    --Shak.

Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
overhear

"to hear what one is not meant to hear," 1540s, from over- + hear. The notion is perhaps "to hear beyond the intended range of the voice." Old English oferhieran also meant "to not listen, to disregard, disobey" (compare overlook for negative force of over; also Middle High German überhaeren, Middle Dutch overhoren in same sense). Related: Overheard; overhearing.

Wiktionary
overhear

vb. To hear something that wasn't meant for one's ears.

WordNet
overhear

  1. v. hear, usually without the knowledge of the speakers; "We overheard the conversation at the next table" [syn: catch, take in]

  2. [also: overheard]

Usage examples of "overhear".

Syrinx overheard a furious affinity conversation with the juvenile offenders.

She had guessed that someone would visit her about witchcraft after overhearing conversations among some children who said she afflicted and troubled people.

Vaguely he wondered what fat, pompous de Batz would think of this discussion if he could overhear it.

I happened to overhear the gentleman himself mentioning to the young lady who does the honours of the house the names of his cousin Miss de Bourgh, and of her mother Lady Catherine.

I happened to overhear the gentleman himself mentioning to the young lady who does the honours of this house the names of his cousin Miss de Bourgh, and of her mother Lady Catherine.

As Brassey could have no reason for having his own conversations overheard, one of two things must be true.

When they were without the tiers, and consequently beyond the danger of being overheard, the two passengers came out of the pavilion, and made a sign to the Bravo to cease rowing.

Ruark overheard, as he inched his way between the brawny chests of several tars who were imbibing close by.

Keenly intent upon his new conclusions, uninformed of the fact that Clifford Sulgate had been overheard and murdered by Bronden, The Shadow had carried his previous deductions farther and farther from the proper course.

Blanche, entreating their mercy, immediately gave up the miniature, while another of the ruffians fiercely interrogated her, concerning what she had overheard of their conversation, when, her confusion and terror too plainly telling what her tongue feared to confess, the ruffians looked expressively upon one another, and two of them withdrew to a remote part of the room, as if to consult further.

Augusta Melks, standing nearby, overheard them and moved to join the conversation.

There will be no such rubbish in my motorcade those instruments can too easily be intercepted, conversations overheard, recorded.

Janai, Sytor and Pandar spent more time than ever together, and were often conversing in low tones that could not be overheard.

I kept my voice low, paranoic about anyone overhearing our conversation, even though the place was nearly empty.

While the Gaidelases were waiting for theiraudition, they mentioned wanting to hike and Peaty overheard again and gavethem advice.