smeagan

• smēan, smēaġean, smēġan

From pre-Old English *smauhōjan,^[1][2] an extended form of *smauhōn.^[3] The verb was contracted after loss of intervocalic -h- (compare twēoġan, sċōġan). Equivalent to smēag (“penetrating, acute, subtle, effective, clever”) +‎ -ian. Ultimately from the root of Proto-Germanic *smeuganą (“to creep, slip through”). 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”).

• IPA^(key): /ˈsmæ͜ɑː.jɑn/

smēaġan^[4]

1. consider, think about
   • c. 992, Ælfric, "The Nativity of St. Andrew the Apostle"

     Smēaġað nu hú Drihten mancynne ætbræd wuldor, þæt hé him wuldor forgeafe.

     Consider now how the Lord took glory away from mankind, that he might give them glory.

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?

• smyġel

• Middle English: smeagen, smegen, smeaȝen, smean