rummaged

Rummaged is the past tense of the verb rummage. To rummage is to search through a mass of items by moving them around, usually in a hurried or disorderly way. The term can also describe exploring through one’s memory, notes, or archives in a similar manner.

In typical usage, rummaged is followed by through or in: “She rummaged through the drawers for the receipt,” or “He rummaged in his bag, pulling out a pen.” The action emphasizes improvised, sometimes chaotic searching rather than careful organization.

As a noun, rummage can refer to the act itself or to the jumble of items found during a search, as in a rummage sale, where miscellaneous goods are sold after being gathered from various sources. The phrase can carry connotations of mess, disorder, or thoroughness, depending on context.

Origin and usage: The verb has been part of English since the 16th century. Its exact etymology is unclear, but it has consistently carried the sense of moving items about to locate something or inspect a collection. Related forms include rummage, rummages, rummaging, and rummager.

See also: rummage sale; rifling; rummaging memory.