Heed, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Heeded; p. pr. & vb. n. Heeding.]
Etymology: [OE. heden, AS. h; akin to OS. hdian, D. hoeden, Fries. hoda, OHG. huoten, G. hüten, Dan. hytte.Hood.]
To mind; to regard with care; to take notice of; to attend to; to observe. With pleasure Argus the musician heeds. Dryden.
Syn. -- To notice; regard; mind. See Attend, v. t.
2 other Webster entries under this spelling
Heed, v. i.
To mind; to consider.
Heed, n.
1. Attention; notice; observation; regard; -- often with give or take. With wanton heed and giddy cunning. Milton. Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab's hand. 2 Sam. xx. 10. Birds give more heed and mark words more than beasts. Bacon.
2. Careful consideration; obedient regard. Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard. Heb. ii. 1.
3. A look or expression of heading. [R.] He did it with a serious mind; a heed Was in his countenance. Shak.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for heed; he lists it under care, follow, listen.
Where he writes about it:
Heed implies attention without disquiet; it is now largely displaced by attention and care. — from care
To heed is not only to attend, but to remember and observe. — from listen