Talk:methinks

Is it really a verb? Methinks, in usage it looks more like an interjection, or an adverb. Dart evader 14:36, 3 April 2006 (UTC)

In modern usage you may be right. It goes back to an old causative double in germanic. In dutch an german they are still there (though little used):

dunken - denken

dünken - denken

Dunken is 'to make denk'. (Just like to set is to make sit) nl:Gebruiker:Jcwf

It’s a so-called impersonal verbform. The Modern English equivalent is seen in expressions such as "it is raining," where "it" has no referent (impersonal). —Stephen 15:07, 3 April 2006 (UTC)

It cracks me up? (;-)) Jcwf

OK, thanks, Stephen. Dart evader

Why isn't methinks obsolete? In 1921, a book published by Harvard said it was. [Google Books Link]

I think archaic might be a better label. In the U.S. I still hear and use methinks from time to time for its distinctive old-hickory effect. —Stephen 23:15, 5 January 2008 (UTC)

German forms - Further forms

This is a very old "twin" verb. Gothic þagkjan - past þâhta to think

             þugkjan - past þûhta to seem - impersonal + dat.

Anglo-Saxon" þencan - þôhte - 3eþôht

               þyncan - þûhte - 3eþûht - impers. + dat. 

German denken - dâchte - gedâcht to think

            dünken - es dünkt mich, dich, ihn, sie... - dauchte - es hat mich gedaucht to seem impers. + acc.
              mir deucht[e] is Subjunctive Imperfect [Konjunktiv II] wrongly spelt and wrongly used; correct däuchte = past tense

Online source: www.dwb.uni-trier.de - article: DÜNKEN .-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

There should be more forms in English: theethinks, himthinks, herthinks, usthinks, youthinks, themthinks

but I lack resources to check.

Nuremberg / Bavaria Ángel García ~ ~ ~ ~