Dictionary

methinks en · X

Pronunciation

• mĭ-thĭngks′
• (US) audio
• /mɪˈθɪŋks/ (UK)
• /miˈθɪŋks/ (General-American)

Etymology

From Middle English me thinketh from Old English mē þynceþ (from þyncan (“to seem”)); equivalent to me (indirect object pronoun, as in “show me it”) + think (“to seem”). Compare synonymous Flemish me dunkt, German mir/mich dünkt, Old Norse mér þykkir (Icelandic mér þykir). Compare meseems.

Meanings

1. (archaic, contraction, humorous) It seems to me.
   • The lady doth protest too much, methinks. c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii]:
   • methinks the truth should live from age to age, c. 1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Richard the Third: […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i]:
   • And then methought my dream changed, and two Great Giants with heading-axes came striding over the bed, […] 1862 February, George Augustus [Henry] Sala, “The Strange Adventures of Captain Dangerous; a Narrative in Plain English, […] Chapter the Fourth. My Grandmother Dies, and I am Left Alone, without So Much as a Name.”, in George Augustus Sala, editor, Temple Bar: A London Magazine for Town and Country Readers, volume IV, London: Office of "Temple Bar," 122 Fleet Street; Ward and Lock, 158 Fleet Street; New York, N.Y.: Willmer and Rogers, →OCLC, page 304:
   • Dr. Tobias Funke: Methinks a cupid I shall play. 2003, “Bringing Up Buster”, in Arrested Development:

Forms

Deriveds

methinks the lady doth protest too much

Relateds

meseems · methought · mehopes

Translations (65)

ja 私が思うに (it seems to me) · sv det synes mig (it seems to me) · cmn 我認為 /我认为 (it seems to me) · he חושבתני (it seems to me) · ro mi se pare (it seems to me) · ka ალბათ (it seems to me) · pl w mojej opinii (it seems to me) · sv mig tyckes (it seems to me) · cmn 據我看來 /据我看来 (it seems to me) · ru мне ка́жется (it seems to me) · fi minusta tuntuu (it seems to me) · hu úgy tűnik (it seems to me) · lt manding (it seems to me) · mk ми се чи́ни (it seems to me) · ast peme (it seems to me) · pl w moich oczach (it seems to me) · he חושבני (it seems to me) · pt me parece (it seems to me) · ru похо́ду (it seems to me) · es me parece (it seems to me) · cmn 依我看來 /依我看来 (it seems to me) · tr sanırım ki (it seems to me) · ru сдаётся (it seems to me) · nl me dunkt (it seems to me) · pl na mój rozum (it seems to me) · nds-de mi dücht (it seems to me) · cs mně se zdá (it seems to me) · pt parece-me (it seems to me) · pl moim zdaniem (it seems to me) · nds-de mi dünkt (it seems to me) · de mir dünkt (it seems to me) · pl w moim odczuciu (it seems to me) · is mér virðist (it seems to me) · fi mielestäni (it seems to me) · de mich dünkt (it seems to me) · ro îmi pare (it seems to me) · bg струва ми се (it seems to me) · fr il m'apparaît (it seems to me) · et minu meelest (it seems to me) · kk меніңше (it seems to me) · it mi sembra (it seems to me) · tr galiba (it seems to me) · el μου φαίνεται (it seems to me) · pl w moim przekonaniu (it seems to me) · sk zdá sa mi (it seems to me) · pl na moje (it seems to me) · sh čini mi se (it seems to me) · ru кажи́сь (it seems to me) · is mér sýnist (it seems to me) · it mi pare (it seems to me) · ru по-мо́ему (it seems to me) · fr il me semble (it seems to me) · ta எனக்கு ... என்று தோன்றுது (it seems to me) · sl zdi se mi (it seems to me) · pl po mojemu (it seems to me) · tr bana öyle gelir ki (it seems to me) · et mulle tundub (it seems to me) · hu olybá tűnik (it seems to me) · fr m'est avis (it seems to me) · no det synes meg (it seems to me) · ar يَبْدُو لِي (it seems to me) · ru похо́же (it seems to me) · az mənə elə gəlir (it seems to me) · pl według mnie (it seems to me) · sv det tycks mig (it seems to me)