Hanged

Hanged
Hang Hang (h[a^]ng), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Hanged} (h[a^]ngd) or {Hung} (h[u^]ng); p. pr. & vb. n. {Hanging}.

Usage: The use of hanged is preferable to that of hung, when reference is had to death or execution by suspension, and it is also more common.] [OE. hangen, hongien, v. t. & i., AS. hangian, v. i., fr. h[=o]n, v. t. (imp. heng, p. p. hongen); akin to OS. hang[=o]n, v. i., D. hangen, v. t. & i., G. hangen, v. i, h["a]ngen, v. t., Icel. hanga, v. i., Goth. h[=a]han, v. t. (imp. ha['i]hah), h[=a]han, v. i. (imp. hahaida), and perh. to L. cunctari to delay. [root]37. ] 1. To suspend; to fasten to some elevated point without support from below; -- often used with up or out; as, to hang a coat on a hook; to hang up a sign; to hang out a banner. [1913 Webster]

2. To fasten in a manner which will allow of free motion upon the point or points of suspension; -- said of a pendulum, a swing, a door, gate, etc. [1913 Webster]

3. To fit properly, as at a proper angle (a part of an implement that is swung in using), as a scythe to its snath, or an ax to its helve. [U. S.] [1913 Webster]

4. To put to death by suspending by the neck; -- a form of capital punishment; as, to hang a murderer. [1913 Webster]

5. To cover, decorate, or furnish by hanging pictures, trophies, drapery, and the like, or by covering with paper hangings; -- said of a wall, a room, etc. [1913 Webster]

Hung be the heavens with black. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

And hung thy holy roofs with savage spoils. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

6. To paste, as paper hangings, on the walls of a room. [1913 Webster]

7. To hold or bear in a suspended or inclined manner or position instead of erect; to droop; as, he hung his head in shame. [1913 Webster]

Cowslips wan that hang the pensive head. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

8. To prevent from reaching a decision, esp. by refusing to join in a verdict that must be unanimous; as, one obstinate juror can hang a jury. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

{To hang down}, to let fall below the proper position; to bend down; to decline; as, to hang down the head, or, elliptically, to hang the head.

{To hang fire} (Mil.), to be slow in communicating fire through the vent to the charge; as, the gun hangs fire; hence, to hesitate, to hold back as if in suspense. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • hanged — hanged, hung In standard usage, the past tense and past participle of hang is hanged with reference to capital punishment and hung in other meanings. So curtains and pictures are hung but a convicted murderer is (or was) hanged. The distinction… …   Modern English usage

  • hanged — hanged; un·hanged; …   English syllables

  • hanged — (hăngd) v. Past tense and past participle of hang. See Usage Note at hang. * * * …   Universalium

  • hanged — (adj.) put to death by hanging, late 15c., pp. of HANG (Cf. hang). As an expletive, from 1887 …   Etymology dictionary

  • hanged —     It was disclosed that a young white official had been found hanged to death in his cell (New York Times). Hanged to death is a tautology. So too, for that matter, are starved to death and strangled to death. The writer was correct, however,… …   Dictionary of troublesome word

  • hanged — /hæŋd/ (say hangd) verb 1. past tense of hang. –adjective 2. subjected to the punishment of hanging: the hanged man. –phrase 3. be hanged, Colloquial (used in emphatic assertions): be hanged if I care; I ll be hanged if I ll go …  

  • hanged — See hanged, hung …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

  • hanged —  , hung  People are hanged; objects are hung …   Bryson’s dictionary for writers and editors

  • hanged if, I'll be —  Emph. negative.    ♣ Hanged if I will! I won t under any circumstances! …   A concise dictionary of English slang

  • Hanged, Drawn And Quartered — Supplice de Hugues le Despenser (manuscrit de Froissart) …   Wikipédia en Français

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