In a dangling position; hanging loosely or swinging freely.
From 'a-' (on/in) + 'dangle.' Part of the same Old English prefix pattern as 'adance,' where 'a-' created continuous state descriptions. Most common in archaic and poetic writing.
The 'a-' prefix in words like 'adangle' is almost extinct in English, but it survives in fossils like 'adrift' and 'afraid'! It shows how language simplifies—we now say 'hanging' instead of 'ahanging,' and most speakers don't realize the prefix is even there.
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