Begone

/bɪˈɡɔn/ verb, interjection

Definition

An archaic or dramatic command to go away or leave; 'be gone' (begone as one word).

Etymology

From Old English 'be' (be) + 'gān' (go). It's literally a command form: 'Be gone' = 'have yourself departed.' Archaic and poetic today.

Kelly Says

This word survives mainly in Shakespeare and fantasy books now, but it shows how English used to use 'be' as an imperative verb. You'll never hear someone actually say 'begone!' in real life—it's purely theatrical.

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