WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : Gan
Part of Speech : imp.
Etymology : [See Gin, v.]
Definition : Defn: Began; commenced.

Note: 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. This man gan fall (i.e., fell) in great suspicion. Chaucer. The little coines to their play gunne hie (i.e., hied). Chaucer.

Note: Later writers use gan both for singular and plural. Yet at her speech their rages gan relent. Spenser.

of Gin.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913