An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/suchen

by Friedrich Kluge

suchen, vb., ‘to seek, search,’ from the equiv. MidHG. suochen (süechen), OHG. suohhan (suohhen); a common Teut. verb, properly strong. Comp. Goth. sôkjan, AS. sêcan, E. to seek (and to beseech), Du. zoeken, OSax. sôkian, ‘to seek.’ The strong verbal root sôk, from Aryan sâg, has primit. cognates in Gr. ἡγέομας ‘to lead,’ and especially in Lat. sâgire, ‘to trace out,’ and OIr. sáigim, ‘to seek.’ To these are allied the cognates of Sache.