English
befang
Befang comes from Old English befōn ‘to surround, clasp, include, envelop, encase,…’, from fōn ‘to catch, capture’, and ultimately from Proto-Germanic *fanhaną ‘to take, to seize’.
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*fanhaną‘to take, to seize’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*fą̄han‘to take, to seize’reconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150fōn‘to catch, capture’
- Old English, derivedc. 450–1150befōn‘to surround, clasp, include, envelop, encase, clothe, comprehend, seize, attack (at law)’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500befon
- Englishtodaybefang
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*fanhaną‘to take, to seize’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*fą̄han‘to take, to seize’reconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150fōn‘to catch, capture’
- Old English, derivedc. 450–1150befōn‘to surround, clasp, include, envelop, encase, clothe, comprehend, seize, attack (at law)’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500befon
- Englishtodaybefang
Proto-Indo-European *h₁epi ‘at, near’
Proto-Indo-European *h₁pi
Proto-Germanic *bi ‘near, by’
Proto-Germanic *bi-
Proto-West Germanic *bi-
English be-
Proto-Germanic *fanhaną ‘to take, to seize’
Proto-West Germanic *fą̄han ‘to take, to seize’
Old English fōn ‘to catch, take, seize’
Old English fengtōþ ‘molar tooth’
Middle English *fangtooth
English fang
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *peh₂ḱ- ‘secure, attach, strengthen’
peace, fair, pace, pact, repay, pax, pacifist, fay, pacifism, pogue, 8 more
through Proto-Germanic *fanhaną ‘to take, to seize’
through Old English fōn ‘to catch, capture’
Today it means
verb To lay hold on; seize; grasp; catch; clutch.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Germanic *fanhaną / befang