hang English · revision 4325

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 1000|origins=ine-pro *konk-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /hæŋ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|hongen|alt=hongen, hangen]], from 1137,^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from a fusion of two Old English verbs: [[inh|ang|hōn|t=to suspend]], a strong verb with past tense heng,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) and [[m|ang|hangian|t=to be suspended]], weak, with past tense hangode,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) probably also influenced by Old Norse hengja “to suspend” and hanga “to be suspended”.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) They go back to Proto-Germanic *hanhan and *hanganan,^(Etymonline) also the source of Dutch hangen and German hängen,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) and to [[ine-pro|*konk-|t=to hang]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) which also gave Hittite gang- “to hang”, Sanskrit śaṅkate “wavers, hesitates” and Latin cunctārī “to delay”.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) It is related to [[hinge]].^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Old English, about 1000, both “to suspend” and “to be suspended”.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) As a method of execution it is in late Old English, but at first specifically of crucifixion.^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The spelling with a never died out and became the standard after the 1550s, except in the north of Britain.^(Barnhart 1988) In the 16th century northern English speakers adopted hung as the past participle, completing the series hing, hang, hung,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) and in the 17th century hung became standard English;^(Barnhart 1988) hanged survived in legal language, for capital punishment, and in phrases taken from it, such as ''I'll be hanged''.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Cresswell 2021) ''Hang back'', to be reluctant, is from the 1580s,^(Etymonline) and ''hang fire'', from 1781, was first of guns slow to go off when the powder in the pan smouldered.^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021) ''Hang around'', to loiter, is from 1828, American English,^(Etymonline) and the American sense “to come to a standstill”, as in a hung jury, from 1848.^(Etymonline) Teen slang “to spend time” is recorded by 1951.^(Etymonline) The noun meant a sling in 1473–74 and a curtain about 1500;^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) the way cloth hangs is from 1797,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) and ''to get the hang of'' something, to become capable, is from 1834 in American English, of forgotten origin.^(Etymonline) ''Hangman'' is from 1345,^(Barnhart 1988) ''hangover'' from 1894 and ''hangout'' from 1895.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1000 – to suspend; to be suspended.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1137 – Middle English hongen.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1345 – ''hangman''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1473–74 – noun, a sling.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1580s – ''hang back''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 16th–17th century – hung as the past participle.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1781 – ''hang fire''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1797 – the way a thing hangs.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1828 – ''hang around''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1834 – ''get the hang of''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1894 – ''hangover''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1951 – to spend time.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To fasten or be fastened from above with no support from below; to [[suspend]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To attach so as to move freely at the point of attachment: ''hang a door''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To [[execute]] or be executed by suspending by the neck.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To fix to a wall: ''hang wallpaper''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To remain suspended in the air; to [[hover]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To droop or bend downward.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To depend: ''everything hangs on the result''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Of a jury, to fail to reach a verdict.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(informal)'' To spend time idly: ''hang out''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # The way in which something hangs.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(informal)'' The knack of doing or understanding something: ''get the hang of it''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[hangable]]

+ * [[hangdog]]

+ * [[hangbird]]

+ * [[hangtag]]

+ * [[rehang]]

+ * [[hanger]]

+ * [[hang-glide]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[hangman]]

+ * [[hangover]]

+ * [[hinge]]

+ * [[hanker]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The past tense and participle is hung, except in the sense of executing by hanging, where hanged is usual.^(MW Collegiate)^(Cresswell 2021)^(SOED 2002) The American Heritage uses hanged also in the exclamation of exasperation ''I'll be hanged''.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}