GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

last match results

Found 2 definitions

1.       
   Gan , imp. of Gin. [See Gin, v.] Began; commenced.
   1913 Webster
   ☞ Gan was formerly used with the infinitive to form compound imperfects, as did is now employed. Gan regularly denotes the singular; the plural is usually denoted by gunne or gonne.
   1913 Webster
   This man gan fall (i.e., fell) in great suspicion.
   Chaucer.
   
   1913 Webster
   The little coines to their play gunne hie (i. e., hied).
   Chaucer.
   
   1913 Webster
    
   Later writers use gan both for singular and plural.
   1913 Webster
   Yet at her speech their rages gan relent.
   Spenser.
   
   1913 Webster
   			      
         
       

2.       
   Gin , v. i. [imp. & p. p. Gan , Gon (gŏn), or Gun (gŭn); p. pr. & vb. n. Ginning.] [OE. ginnen, AS. ginnan (in comp.), prob. orig., to open, cut open, cf. OHG. inginnan to begin, open, cut open, and prob. akin to AS. gīnan to yawn, and E. yawn. √31. See Yawn, v. i., and cf. Begin.] To begin; -- often followed by an infinitive without to; as, gan tell. See Gan. [Obs. or Archaic] “He gan to pray.”
   Chaucer.
   
   1913 Webster