German

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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Formally from Middle High German öugen, ougen, from Old High German ougen, from Proto-West Germanic *augijan, all meaning “to show, let see”. By surface analysis, Auge (eye) +‎ -en. The modern sense “to look” seems to be of northern origin, being first attested in Middle Low German ö̂gen, Middle Dutch ôgen (both 15th century). It only became common in standard German in the 19th century. There may also have been influence by äugeln (to ogle, look flirtingly), which had this sense already in Middle High German.

Pronunciation

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Verb

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äugen (weak, third-person singular present äugt, past tense äugte, past participle geäugt, auxiliary haben)

  1. (intransitive) to look in a searching or cautious way (typically said of animals or of shy, anxious or curious persons)
    Sie äugte ängstlich um die Ecke.
    She peered fearfully around the corner.
    Das Baby äugte neugierig umher.
    The baby peered around curiously.
  2. (transitive, obsolete) to show, allow to see

Declension

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Derived terms

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