▪ I. begone, ppl. a.
(bɪˈgɒn)
see bego v. 8.
▪ II. begone, v.
(bɪˈgɒn)
Also 7 begon.
[Really two words be gone (cf. be off), long used without analysis in the imperative as expressing a single notion, and so written as one word; recent writers have extended this, without any good reason, to the infinitive. But cf. the similar beware.]
| a. c 1370 Robt. Cicyle 52 He stode, And callyd the portar, ‘Gad'lyng, begone!’ 1610 Histrio-m. iii. 99 Begone yee greedy beefe-eaters. a 1719 Addison (J.) Begone! the goddess cries with stern disdain. 1853 Arab. Nts. (Rtldg.) 89 Begone, and remember I am impatient for your return. |
| b. [1660 Jer. Taylor Worthy Commun. i. 61 He bad him be gon and fly from his Fathers wrath.] 1816 J. Wilson City of Plague i. i. 265 Let us begone, the day is wearing fast. 1865 Carlyle Fredk. Gt. (1873) II. 135 Kaiser's Ambassador..is angrily ordered to begone. |
¶ Used for the word or command ‘Begone!’
| 1820 Scott Abbot xi, My Lady made me brook the ‘Begone.’ |
¶ Formerly sometimes for
be (
= been)
gone.
| 1440 J. Shirley Dethe K. James (1818) 17 The Kyng..denyd that they had all begone [been gone]. |