go

Where does the word "go" come from? It comes from Proto-Germanic gāną, passing through Old English before entering English (1500s).

Go’s story begins in Proto-Germanic: gāną meant “to go.” German 'gehen' is a cousin. By 700s-1000s, the word had taken hold in Old English as gān. Its past tense was 'ēode'. It reached English by 1500s as go. In the 1400s 'went', the past tense of 'wend', replaced the old past tense. Today, go means to move from one place to another.

1. Stage 1 · Proto-Germanic · ancient gāną "to go", German 'gehen' is a cousin.
2. Stage 2 · Old English · 700s-1000s gān "to go", its past tense was 'ēode'.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1500s go "to move", in the 1400s 'went', the past tense of 'wend', replaced the old past tense.