v. Obs. Forms: Inf. 1–4 afó-n, 2–4 afo, 3–5 afong(e, 3–4 avong(e, 4 afang(e, avang(e. Pa. t. 1–4 afeng, 2–3 aveng, 3 afong. Pa. pple. 1 afangen, afongen. Imp. 2 auouh, 3 afeoh. [f. A- pref. 1 intensive + fón to seize, grasp: see FONG, FANG.]
1. To take by force or authority; hence, to seize, apprehend.
c. 975. Rushw. Gosp., Matt. iv. 12. Iohannes wæs afongen.
a. 1000. Juliana (Grein), 320. Forht afongen, friðes orwena.
1205. Layamon, 22628. Ȝif he [him] mihte afon, he wolde hine slæn.
c. 1314. Guy Warw., 74. Sir Herhaud, thou schalt afong Four hundred knightes.
2. To take (what is offered), to accept.
1205. Layamon, 14584. Buten þu a þine daȝen afo hæðene laȝen.
a. 1250. Owl & Night., 841. That alle tho that hi avoth, Hi weneth that thu segge soth.
c. 1305. St. Christoph., in E. E. P. (1862), 65. He … bileouede on god anon And afeng cristendom.
c. 1314. Guy Warw., 94. Ac he therof nold afo.
3. To receive (a person), to welcome.
c. 1000. O. E. Gosp., Mark xvi. 19. He wæs on heofonum afangen.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 197. Auouh mine soule.
1205. Layamon, 15661. Vortigerne … þa læuedi aueng; mid swiðe uæire læten. Ibid., 14160. Afeoh heom mid wunne.
c. 1330. Arth. & Merl., 2546. And him afenge with fair acord.
c. 1380. Sir Ferumb., 2904. Prayhede he to god Almiȝt; scholde ys soule auonge.
4. To receive, get, come into possession of.
a. 1000. Psalms (Spelm.), xlvii. 8. We aféngon mildheortnysse ðine on midle temple.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 131. Euric mon scal auon mede.
1205. Layamon, 23969. He wunde afeng; feouwer unchene long.
1297. R. Glouc., 368. As in vorste ȝer, þat he auong hys kynedom.
c. 1315. Shoreham, 51. And at ordres avangeth hy The boke of the Godspelle.
c. 1330. Kyng of Tars, 1016. The dethe thei scholde afonge.
b. intr. To be in possession.
c. 1450. Lonelich, Grail, li. 220. Whethir this fyr scholde lasten longe, Oþer endelesly there stille to a-fonge.
5. To get (offspring), to conceive.
c. 1305. Judas, in E. E. P. (1862), 108. Ac hi no child for no þing bituene hem ne miȝte afonge.
c. 1315. Shoreham, 121. For so hy hyne scholde ferst avonge, Ther nys ni senne ther amonge, Ne noe flesches lykynge.
6. Of a thing: To take in, contain, to hold.
c. 1300. Beket, 2349. The contrayes wide and longe Miȝte unethe al that folc that ther com afonge.
