Overhear

wiktionary

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From Middle English *overheren, from Old English oferhīeran(“to overhear, hear, disobey, disregard, neglect”), equivalent to over- +‎ hear. Cognate with Dutch overhoren(“to hear, hear about”), German überhören(“to not hear, ignore”), Danish overhøre(“to overhear”), Icelandic yfirheyra(“to hear”), Gothic *𐌿𐍆𐌰𐍂𐌷𐌰𐌿𐍃𐌾𐌰𐌽( *ufarhausjan, “to disregard, disobey”) (in 𐌿𐍆𐌰𐍂𐌷𐌰𐌿𐍃𐌴𐌹𐌽𐍃( ufarhauseins)).

etymonline

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overhear (v.)

"to hear one who does not wish to be heard or 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 (West Saxon), oferhēran (Anglian) also meant "to not listen, to disregard, disobey." Compare overlook (v.) for negative force of over; also Middle High German überhaeren, Middle Dutch overhoren in same sense. And Middle English had overheren "to hear fully or plainly" (c. 1300). The various senses reflect the wide range of over-. Related: Overheard; overhearing.