仄ほの聞きく

yodan verb with 'ku' ending (archaic), transitive verb

hear faintly; catch wind of

Archaic yodan verb meaning to hear something indirectly or faintly. Not used in modern Japanese; the modern equivalent is 仄聞する (そくぶんする) or 小耳に挟む (こみみにはさむ).

• 古こ文ぶん中ちゅうに「仄ほの聞きく」とあり、噂うわさをかすかに耳みみにした意いである。

  In classical texts, 仄聞く appears, meaning to have faintly heard a rumor.