A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Me-think, impers. v. Also: -thynk. P.t. me-thocht, -thoght, mee-thought. [ME. me thinc (Cursor M.), me þenke (14th c.), also me-thenkth, -þingþ, etc., p.t. methoght (14th c.), -thought, early me ðuhte, e.m.E. methink(e, -thinketh, -think(e)s, p.t. -thought, OE. mé þyncþ, p.t. mé þúhte, f. þyncean to seem: see Think v.More often written as two words.]
It seems to me. Variously const.(For me thinkis, think me, etc., see Think v.).(1) 1375 Barb. iii. 67 (E).
Me think … Rycht swa all his fra ws has he c1400 Troy-bk. i. 71. a1500 Henr. Fab. 456 (Bann.).
My hert warmys, me think I am at hame Ib. 700. a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 92.
Me think thow fedis thé vnfair, freik c1475 Wall. i. 385.
It war resone, me think, yhe suld haif part a1500 K. Hart 739.
Methink thir carlis ar nocht courtlie clede! c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 3/19.
The quhilk peple, me think, luffis the word of God c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 222.
Me think ther haldis ȝow a hete as ȝe sum harme alyt Id. xliii. 21.
Thir lairdis ar, methink, richt far Sic ladeis behaldin to Id. lvii. 25. Id. lxxiv. 19. a1568 Bann. MS. 134 a/14. 1540 Lynd. Sat. 1940. 1558 Q. Kennedy Tractive 126.
Me think, efter my jugement, thair is nane ner(b) c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxxiii. 6 (Asl.).
Me thocht a Turk of Tartary Come out of the land of Barbary Id. Tua Mar. W. 395. 1540 Lynd. Sat. 1946.
Methocht the cairie me callit knave c1600 Montg. Suppl. xxi. 9.
With that me thocht hir nicht-gowne of sche cuist(2) 1405 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 59.
Me think o resoune yhe suld erar put blame … to the doarys … than me c1420 Wynt. viii. 5826.
Methynk all Scottis men suld be Haldyn gretly to that kyng 1456 Hay I. 155/20.
All that I may gett apon him … me think I suld tak fra him Ib. 163/17.
And sen all His dedis He did for oure instructioun, me think rycht sa that othir kingis … suld nocht do … na barat Ib. 183/23.
And as to that, be oure lawis … , me think he aw to enter agayne [etc.] c1475 Wall. i. 268.
Part of thar ire me think we suld gaynstand Ib. xi. 1382.(3) 1375 Barb. iii. 653.
Tharfor me thynk best to thé To haid thé alwayis ner by me ?1438 Alex. ii. 345.
Methink it tyme to tak our harnes c1420 Wynt. ii. Prol. 24.
Storys … that me thynk mast lykly [etc.] Ib. viii. 6642. 1456 Hay I. 242/14.
And tharfore, as to that, me think this opynioun nouthir lele na trewe a1500 Henr. Fab. 1029 (Bann.).
Me think far better To slepe in hele and in ane vnhurt skyn c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 143.
Me think the baid deir aboucht Id. xxiv. 5. 1584 Cal. Sc. P. VII. 296.(b) c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 393.
Me thoght him gracelese on to goif(4) c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxvi. 62.
Out of thair throttis thay schot … Hett moltin gold, me thocht a fudder
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"Me-think v. impers.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Nov 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/me_think>