smeagan

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Old English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From Proto-West Germanic *smaugijan, from Proto-Germanic *smaugijaną. Compare smēag (penetrating, acute, subtle, effective, clever), from Proto-Germanic *smaugaz (slimy, slippery, slick). Akin to Old English smūgan (to creep, progress gradually or deliberately), Old Norse smjúga (to creep) (> Danish smyge), Old English smyġel (a burrow, place to creep into).

Pronunciation

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Verb

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smēaġan

  1. consider, think about
  2. meditate
  3. examine, scrutinize, question
    • Lindisfarne Gospels, Mark 8:11:
      And þa ferdon ða pharisei ⁊ ongunnon mid him smeagean ⁊ tacen of heofone sohton ⁊ his fandedon;
      And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him. (KJV)
    • Lindisfarne Gospels, Mark 9:16:
      Þa ahsode he hi, hwæt smeage ge betwux eow;
      And he asked them, What question ye among yourselves?

Conjugation

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Derived terms

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Descendants

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  • Middle English: smeagen, smegen, smeaȝen, smean