begone

A child points at a stray cat and shouts, "Begone!"

Definition

1. Interjection:

   • A command to leave immediately: "begone" is an archaic or literary interjection used to order someone to go away or depart at once. It carries a strong, often angry or dismissive tone.

2. Verb (archaic, used in imperative form only):

   • To depart or be gone: This verb form is only used in the imperative mood, meaning it is always a command. It implies the speaker wants the person or thing to disappear or cease to exist.

Usage Examples

• Interjection:

  • "Begone, you villain!" the king shouted. (A strong command for the villain to leave immediately.)
  • She waved her hand and said, "Begone, foul spirit!" (A dramatic dismissal of a ghost or unwanted presence.)

• Verb (imperative):

  • If you have no business here, begone! (Ordering someone to depart if they have no reason to stay.)
  • "Begone from my sight!" he cried, turning away in disgust. (A forceful demand for the person to leave his view.)

Advanced Usage

• "Begone with you": an extended form of the command, often used in older English literature.

  • "Begone with you, and trouble me no more," the old man said. (A more elaborate dismissal, emphasizing the desire for the person to leave permanently.)

• "Begone, dull care": a fixed expression used to dismiss worry or sadness, often found in songs or poetry.

  • "Begone, dull care! I will not be troubled by you today." (A poetic way of saying "I will not let sadness affect me.")

Variants and Related Words

• Begone (adj, archaic): an obsolete adjective meaning "departed" or "gone away."

  • The knight was begone before dawn. (The knight had left early in the morning.)

• Begone (n, rare): an obsolete noun meaning "a departure" or "a going away."

  • His sudden begone surprised everyone. (His sudden departure surprised everyone.)

Synonyms

• Depart: to leave, especially formally or officially.
• Away: used as a command meaning "go away" (e.g., "Away with you!").
• Scram: a slang command meaning "leave quickly."
• Vamoose: a colloquial command meaning "to leave hurriedly."

Related Idioms

• Be gone: a phrase meaning "to have left or disappeared," often used as a past participle.

  • The thief was gone before anyone noticed. (The thief had already left.)

• Get thee gone: an archaic biblical or literary expression meaning "go away."

  • "Get thee gone, Satan," the priest said. (A command for evil to depart.)

Phrasal Verbs

• Begone from: to depart from a specific place or person.

  • He begged them to begone from his land. (He asked them to leave his property.)

• Begone with: to take something away when leaving.

  • She ordered him to begone with his lies. (She commanded him to leave and take his falsehoods with him.)