An extremely archaic word meaning to cry out or call; to ascertain by crying or asking aloud.
From Old English, combining 'a-' (prefix) with 'cry.' Appears in very early English texts but became obsolete. The word originally meant to determine something through vocal inquiry, connecting to the sense of 'cry' meaning 'call' or 'proclaim.'
This word is so old it almost vanished from English—finding it is like discovering that medieval people had a specific word for 'calling out to find something,' reflecting how village life depended on shouting to communicate!
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