Safari 12.1.2 - Apple search suggestions missing; ignores a typed full URL.

Immediately after installing the Safari 12.1.2 update on this 10.13.6 High Sierra MBP, Safari suggested URLs are missing. AFAIK, I made no prefs changes.

My home page has long been Google advanced search, and I've used the Google search engine.

If I open a new window and shift-tab so the insertion point is in the "smart search field" ['address bar'], and begin typing a URL in short form, only a few generic Google search terms appear - none of which I've ever used. The typical list of URLs is gone. [Gradually, as I wrote this question and tested multiple options for accuracy, a few of the Apple-suggested URLS began appearing.]

Enter a 'short form' URL and press return, that quasi-URL is replaced with the Google Advanced search URL and otherwise ignored. Amazingly, even when a correctly-formed URL is entered, it too is ignored even though it's icon appears to the left of the search field as soon as the entry is complete. The full URL disappears, replaced with the Google advanced search URL, same way a new window opens... except none does.

Selecting one of the Google-generated generic terms is like having typed that term directly into the Google web page "All these terms..." box. A search is returned.

Bookmarks and favorites work, and I haven't noticed any other misbehavior.

I toggled the search engine pref to see if Safari suggestions would returned, but they didn't.' The other three smart search field options are always selected.

If some file has to be deleted, which one, and where is it?

-Paul