think

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Thought p. pr. & vb. n. Thinking. ] [ OE. thinken, properly, to seem, from AS. þyncean (cf. Methinks), but confounded with OE. thenken to think, fr. AS. þencean (imp. þōhte); akin to D. denken, dunken, OS. thenkian, thunkian, G. denken, dünken, Icel. þekkja to perceive, to know, þykkja to seem, Goth. þagkjan, þaggkjan, to think, þygkjan to think, to seem, OL. tongere to know. Cf. Thank, Thought. ] 1. To seem or appear; -- used chiefly in the expressions methinketh or methinks, and methought. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ These are genuine Anglo-Saxon expressions, equivalent to it seems to me, it seemed to me. In these expressions me is in the dative case. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To employ any of the intellectual powers except that of simple perception through the senses; to exercise the higher intellectual faculties. [ 1913 Webster ]

For that I am
I know, because I think. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Specifically: -- (a) To call anything to mind; to remember; as, I would have sent the books, but I did not think of it. [ 1913 Webster ]

Well thought upon; I have it here. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

(b) To reflect upon any subject; to muse; to meditate; to ponder; to consider; to deliberate. [ 1913 Webster ]

And when he thought thereon, he wept. Mark xiv. 72. [ 1913 Webster ]

He thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? Luke xii. 17. [ 1913 Webster ]

(c) To form an opinion by reasoning; to judge; to conclude; to believe; as, I think it will rain to-morrow. [ 1913 Webster ]

Let them marry to whom they think best. Num. xxxvi. 6. [ 1913 Webster ]

(d) To purpose; to intend; to design; to mean. [ 1913 Webster ]

I thought to promote thee unto great honor. Num. xxiv. 11. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thou thought'st to help me. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

(e) To presume; to venture. [ 1913 Webster ]

Think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father. Matt. iii. 9. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ To think, in a philosophical use as yet somewhat limited, designates the higher intellectual acts, the acts preeminently rational; to judge; to compare; to reason. Thinking is employed by Hamilton as “comprehending all our collective energies.” It is defined by Mansel as “the act of knowing or judging by means of concepts, ”by Lotze as “the reaction of the mind on the material supplied by external influences.” See Thought. [ 1913 Webster ]

To think better of. See under Better. --
To think much of, or
To think well of, to hold in esteem; to esteem highly. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To expect; guess; cogitate; reflect; ponder; contemplate; meditate; muse; imagine; suppose; believe. See Expect, Guess. [ 1913 Webster ]