The imperative Hear!, now usually repeated Hear! hear! (formerly Hear him! hear him!) is used as an exclamation to call attention to a speaker's words, and hence has become a general expression of approbation or 'cheering'.

It is now the regular form of cheering ... in the House of Commons, and expresses, according to intonation, admiration, acquiescence, indignation, derision, etc. [ellipsis mine].

This discussion is based on the definition of the word hear in the first edition of the Oxford English Dictionary, which requires a little explanation.

To Act I or Act II of Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado.

To the homepage of this Mikado website.

Suggestions, contributions, criticisms, questions? Email Sharon Cogdill.