Middle English word thynken comes from Proto-Indo-European *tong-, and later Proto-Germanic *þankijaną (To perceive, to think.)
| Dictionary entry | Language | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| *tong- | Proto-Indo-European (ine-pro) | |
| *tn̥g-ye/o- | Proto-Indo-European (ine-pro) | |
| *þankaz | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | Gratitude; thanks. Remembrance. Thought; mind; consideration. |
| *þankijaną | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | To perceive, to think. |
| *þunkijaną | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | To seem, to appear. |
| þenċean | Old English (ang) | |
| þyncan | Old English (ang) | (impersonal) to seem, appear (+ dative). |
| thenchen | Middle English (enm) |