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Definition 2024

onfang ‎(third-person singular simple present onfangs, present participle onfanging, simple past and past participle onfanged)

From Middle English onfangen, onfon ‎(“to receive, accept”), from Old English onfōn, ondfōn ‎(“to receive, accept, perceive”), from Proto-Germanic *and- + *fanhaną ‎(“to accept”), from Proto-Indo-European *ph₂ḱ- ‎(“to fasten, fix, stick”), equivalent to and- +‎ fang. Cognate with West Frisian ûntfange ‎(“to receive”), Dutch ontvangen ‎(“to receive”), German empfangen ‎(“to receive, welcome”), Icelandic aðfang ‎(“input, supply”), Latin pangō ‎(“fix, fasten, drive in”), Old English ġefangian ‎(“to fasten, join”). More at un-, fang.