Obs. exc. arch. and dial. Forms: 3 liðen, -in, 3–7, 9 lythe, 4, 7 lithen, 4 lythen, 4, 6–7 lith, 4–6 lyth, 3–lithe. [ON. hlýða (MSw. lydha to listen, Sw. lyda, Da. lyde to obey; the Da. lytte to listen, is a different formation), f. hlióð neut., listening, sound, corresp. to Goth. hliuþ listening attention (ἡσυχία), OHG. hliudar, OE. hléoðor sense of hearing, music, f. Teut. root *hleu- to hear: see LIST sb.1] intr. To hearken, listen. Const. dat. or to, unto (at, till). Also, to hear of (a thing). Occas. quasi-trans. with obj. a thing.
a. 1225. Juliana, 73. Lysteð me leoue men & liðeð ane hwile.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 2077. Quað ðis bred-wriȝte, ‘liðeð nu me.’
c. 1300. Havelok, 1400. Liþes nou alle to me, Louerdinges.
13[?]. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 1719. Thenne was hit lif vpon list to lyþen þe houndez.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 67. How þe gamen ȝede lithe I salle ȝow seie.
c. 1330. Amis & Amil., 429. Hir name was cleped Belisaunt, As ye may lithe at me.
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. XI. 65. To lithen here laies and here loueliche notes.
a. 1400[?]. Morte Arth., 1810. Theis newe made knyghttez Lythes vn-to the crye.
c. 1400. Tale of Gamelyn, 1. Litheth and lesteneth and herkeneth aright.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 5023. Þan list him lithe of his lyfe & of his last ende.
c. 1470. Golagros & Gaw., 1163. Lufly ledis in land, lythis me til!
a. 1500[?]. Ballad, Adam Bell, etc. I. 17. Now lithe and listen, gentlemen That of mirth loueth to heare!
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, l. 1. Now lythis of ane gentill Knycht, Schir Thomas Norray.
1592. in Vicary’s Anat. (1888), App. ix. 228. Lythe and I shall tell them the.
1615. Brathwait, Strappado (1878), 132. Thou mun not take petition (lithen me) Nor entertaine him, till thou take thy fee.
1683. G. Meriton, Yorksh. Dial., 4. Lythe yee, Lythe yee! How fondley you tawke.
1807. Stagg, Poems, 20. Monny a sleepless night she past,… As she lythe’d the lengthnin’ blast.
1840. Barham, Ingol. Leg., Ser. I. Witches Frolic. One tale I remember of mickle dread, Now lithe and listen, my little boy Ned.
