hang

Word Origin & History

a fusion of Old English hon "suspend" (transitive, class VII strong verb; past tense heng, past participle hangen), and Old English hangian (weak, intransitive, past tense hangode) "be suspended;" also probably influenced by Old Norse hengja "suspend," and hanga "be suspended." All from Proto-Germanic *khang- (cf. Old Frisian hangia, Dutch hangen, German hängen), from PIE *kank- "to hang" (cf. Gothic hahan, Hittite gang- "to hang," Sanskrit sankate "wavers," Latin cunctari "to delay;" see also second element in Stonehenge). As a method of execution, in late Old English (but originally specifically of crucifixion).

Hung emerged as past participle 16c. in northern England dialect, and hanged endured only in legal language (which tends to be conservative) and metaphors extended from it (I'll be hanged). Teen slang sense of "spend time" first recorded 1951; hang around "idle, loiter" is from 1830, and hang out (v.) is from 1811. Hang fire (1781) was originally used of guns that were slow in communicating the fire through the vent to the charge. To let it all hang out "be relaxed and uninhibited" is from 1967.

Example Sentences for hang

You'd better bring out that motto and hang it up where they can see it.

All the joy of life seems to me to hang on that little phrase.

The day promises to be splendid, but mists as yet hang over the scene.

I ought, of course, to fling myself into the chasm like that Roman fellow; but, hang it!

You may hang a man if you like, but you have no right to starve him.

I'll hang it back on the peg just now, but don't use it again fer a bit.

Hang tight, now—I'm going to beat that horse to the Hog's Back.

Why didn't you do as I told you—hang to the bridle and fight Denver off with your whip?

As Donald says, there's no reason why it should hang there for centuries and fall on him today.

She did not braid her hair, but let it hang over her shoulders.

hang

flopping

hang in the balance

hesitate

hesitated

hinge

hinge on

hinged

hinges on

hang

More words related to hang