Alternative forms

• befong

Etymology

From Middle EnglishCategory:English terms derived from Middle English#BEFANG befon (past participle befangen), from Old EnglishCategory:English terms derived from Old English#BEFANG befōn (“to surround, clasp, include, envelop, encase, clothe, comprehend, seize, attack (at law), lay hold of, catch, ensnare, contain, receive, conceive, explain”), equivalent to be- +‎ fang. Cognate with Dutch bevangen (“to seize”), Middle High German bevāhen (“to comprehend”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [bəˈfæŋ]Category:English terms with IPA pronunciation#BEFANG

Verb

befang (third-person singular simple present befangs, present participle befanging, simple past and past participle befanged)Category:English lemmas#BEFANGCategory:English verbs#BEFANGCategory:English entries with incorrect language header#BEFANGCategory:Pages with entries#BEFANGCategory:Pages with 1 entry#BEFANG

1. (transitiveCategory:English transitive verbs#BEFANG, UKCategory:British English#BEFANG dialectalCategory:English dialectal terms#BEFANG, YorkshireCategory:Yorkshire English#BEFANG) To lay hold on; seize; grasp; catch; clutch.

   Come here an' I'll befang thee!Category:English terms with usage examples#BEFANG

2. (intransitiveCategory:English intransitive verbs#BEFANG, obsoleteCategory:English terms with obsolete senses#BEFANG) To take hold on; begin or commence upon.
3. (transitiveCategory:English transitive verbs#BEFANG, obsoleteCategory:English terms with obsolete senses#BEFANG) To encompass; enclose; contain; comprehend.