Hang | Webster's Dictionary (1865)

Hāng, v. t.

verbtransitive

v. t. [imp. & p. p. HANGED, or HUNG; p. pr. & vb. n. HANGING. The use of hanged is preferable to that of hung, when reference is had to death or execution by suspension, and it is also more common.] [A-S. hangian, hungian, hōn, O. Sax. hangon, D. hangen, Ger. hangen, hängen, Icel. hanga, hengia, Sw. hänga, Dan. hänge, M. H. Ger. hâhen, O. H. Ger. hâhan, hangen, hengan, Goth. hahan.]

To suspend; to affix to some elevated point without support from below; — often used with up or out; as, to hang a coat on a hook; to hang up a sign; to hang out a banner.
To fasten in a manner which will allow of free motion upon the point or points of suspension; — said of a pendulum, a swing, a door, gate, &c.
To put to death by suspending; — a common form of capital punishment; as, to hang a murderer.
To decorate or furnish by hanging pictures, trophies, drapery, and the like; — said of a wall, a room, &c.

Hang be the heavens with black. Shak. And hang thy holy roofs with savage spoils. Dryden. 5. To cause or suffer to hang; to droop. “Cowslips wan that hang the pensive head.” Milton. To hang down, to let fall below the proper situation; to bend down; to decline; as, to hang down the head, or, elliptically, to hang the head.—To hang fire (Mil.), to be slow in discharging or communicating fire through the vent to the charge; as, the gun hangs fire.

Hăng, v. i.

verbintransitive

v. i. 1. To be suspended or affixed to some elevated point without support from below; to dangle; to float; to rest; to remain; to stay.

Sense 2. To be fastened in such a manner as to allow of free motion on the point or points of suspension.

Sense 3. To be put to death by suspension from the neck. [Rare.] “Sir Balaam hangs.” Pope.

Sense 4. To rest for support; to depend; to cling;—usually with on or upon: as, this question hangs on a single point. “Two infants hanging on her neck.” Peacham.

Sense 5. To be a weight; to drag.

Life hangs upon me, and becomes a burden. Addison.

Sense 6. To hover; to impend; to appear threateningly;—usually with over: as, evils hang over the country.

Sense 7. To incline downward; to lean or incline; as, hanging grounds. “To decide which way hung the victory.” Milton.

His neck obliquely o’er his shoulder hung. Pope.

Sense 8. To be undetermined or uncertain; to be in suspense.

A noble stroke he lifted high, Which hung not. Milton.

Hanging garden, a garden raised above ground, as on a roof.—To hang by the eyelids. (a.) To hang by a very slight hold or tenure. (b.) To be in an unfinished condition; to be left incomplete.—To hang on (with the emphasis on the preposition), to keep hold; to hold fast; to stick.—To hang on the lips, words, &c., to be charmed by eloquence.

Though wondering senates hung on all he spoke, The club must hail him master of the joke. Pope.

—To hang to, to cling.—To hang together. (a.) To remain united.

In the common cause we are all of a piece; we hang together. Dryden.

(b.) To be self-consistent; as, the story does not hang together. [Collog.]

Hăng, n.

noun

n. [Ger. hang, i. q. abhang, declivity.]

A sharp or steep declivity. [Collog.]
The manner in which one part hangs upon another; connection; arrangement; plan; as, the hang of a scythe, or of a discourse. [Collog.]

To get the hang of, to learn the arrangement of; hence, to become accustomed to.