from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Gan \Gan\, imp. of {Gin}. [See {Gin}, v.]
Began; commenced.
[1913 Webster]
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.
[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]
Note: Later writers use gan both for singular and plural.
[1913 Webster]
Yet at her speech their rages gan relent.
--Spenser.
[1913 Webster]
from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Gin \Gin\ (g[i^]n), v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Gan} (g[a^]n), {Gon}
(g[o^]n), or {Gun} (g[u^]n); 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. g[imac]nan to yawn, and E. yawn. [root]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]