begang

Old English

Alternative forms

• begong

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *bigangaz (“a going about; way; course”), equivalent to be- +‎ gang. Cognate with Old Frisian bigangnisse, bigongnisse (“celebration”), Old High German bigang (“care; motive; practice”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /beˈɡɑnɡ/, [beˈɡɑŋɡ]

Noun

begang m (nominative plural begangas)

1. course, passage, circuit

   Holma begang. ― The passage of the deep. (Andr. Kmbl. 390; An. 195.)

2. region, territory, expanse

   Ofer geofenes begang. ― Over the sea's expanse. (Beowulf)

3. business, undertaking, service

   Hé hine onwende from ealre þisse worlde begangum. ― He would trade for Him all this world for service. (Bl. H. 113, 30)

4. cultivation

   Fram ǽlce begange þis land ligeð tólýsed. ― (please add an English translation of this quotation)

5. religious practice

   Ðǽre godcundnesse begang ― Divine worship (Bd. 2, 13; Sch. 164, 10)

6. superstitious or magical practice

   Sé þe lufige þisses galdres begang. ― Lo, see thee here the practice of the wizard. (Hpt. 33, 73, 14. v.)

Declension

Declension of begang (strong a-stem)

Case	Singular	Plural
nominative	begang	begangas
accusative	begang	begangas
genitive	beganges	beganga
dative	begange	begangum