Hanging
/ˈhæŋ.ɪŋ/noun
The act of suspending something from a higher point.
Did you know?In medieval times, hanging was not only a form of execution but also a way to ward off evil spirits, believed to trap them in the air.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*kʷenk-
“to hang or suspend; an action indicating a state of being elevated or supported.”
Old English
OE
hangian
“to be suspended, to be attached or to dangle.”
Old Norse
ON
hǫngva
“to hang or be suspended, often used in tales of execution.”
Middle English
ME
hangen
“to suspend or be suspended, associated with both physical and metaphorical meanings.”
Modern English
English
hanging
“the state of being suspended, often darkly associated with death or punishment.”