gnu 
the antilopine division of the family Borida; a 
wildebeest. The gnu has little of the appearance of an 
ordinary antelope, being a creature of singular shape, 
strangely combining characters which recall at once horse, 
ass, and ox. There are two very distinct species, the com- 
mon gnu, C. gnu, and the brindled gnu, C. gorgon, some- 
times generically separated under the name Oornmiin 
The former stands about 4 feet high at the withers, and is 
about 5J feet long ; the shoulders are hunched ; the neck 
is mat ice I like an ass's; the tail is long and flowing like a 
horse's ; the head is like a buffalo's, with a broad muzzle, 
and beset with long bristly hairs ; other long hairs hang 
from the dewlap and between the fore legs ; there are horns 
in both sexes, in the male massive, meeting over the poll, 
then curving downward and outward and again turned up 
at the tip, like a muskox's ; the color is brownish or black- 
ish, with much white in the tail and mane. The brindled 
gnu is a larger animal, striped on the fore quarters, with 
black tail and more copious mane ; it is known as the 
blue wildebeest, and by the Bechuan name kokon or lev- 
koon. Both species inhabit southerly parts of Africa, in 
company with zebras and quaggas, and usually go in herds 
like other antelopes. 
go (go), f. ; pret. went, pp. gone, ppr. going. 
[Sc. also gae; < ME. go, goo, gon, goon, earlier 
gan (pret. eode, gede, yede, yode; also wente 
(prop, the pret. of wenden: see wend), ppr. go- 
ande, goende, pp. gon, gan), < AS. gan (pret. 
eode, ppr. not found, pp. ge-gdn) = OS. gan = 
OFries. gan = D. gaan = MLG. LG. gan = OHG. 
gan, gen, MHG. gen, G. gehen (= mod. Icel. ga = 
Sw. ga = Dan. gaa, of LG. origin) ; not in Goth, 
(except in the pret. iddja) nor in early Scand. ; 
a defective verb, generally regarded as a con- 
traction of the equiv. AS. gangan = Goth. 
gaggan, etc ., E. gang, with which it has been long 
confused (see gang) ; but such a contraction is 
otherwise unexampled (the contraction in AS. 
/on, take, hon, hang, from the fuller form rep- 
resented by the E. fang, hang, q. v., being dif- 
ferent), and is, on phonetic and other grounds, 
improbable. The form of the appar. root (Teut. 
y gai), the form of the pret. (AS. eode, Goth. 
iddja), and the fact that the prolific and wide- 
spread Indo-Eur. \/ i, go, is otherwise scarcely 
represented in Teut. (unless in OHG. Hen, G. 
eilen = Dan. He = Sw. Ha, hasten ; AS. He, = 
OFries. He = Icel. il, the sole of the foot), give 
some probability to the conjecture that the 
Teut. y gai stands for *ga-i, being the general- 
izing prefix, Goth, ga-, AS., etc., ge- (see t-l), 
+ _V *> g- The AS. pres. ind. 1 ga, 2 gcest, 3 
gteth = Goth, as if 1 "ga-im, 2 *ga-is, 3 *ga-ith, 
equiv. to the simple forms 1 *im, 2 "is, 3 "itli 
(disused perhaps because of possible confusion 
with similar forms of the verb be, namely, 1 im, 
2 is, 3 ist = E. 1 am, 2 art, 3 is) ; = L. ire (pres. 
ind. 1 eo, 2 is, 3 it) = Gr. ievat (pres. ind. 1 dpi, 
2 el, elf, 3 iiai) = Skt. / (pres. ind. 1 em i, 2 eshi, 
3 eti, etc.) = Lith. eiti == OBulg. iti, go. In this 
view, the pret., AS. eode, Goth, iddja, etc. (in 
comp. ge-eode, ME. zeode, gede. gode, E. obs. 
yede, yode, with occas. pres. yede, yead), appar. 
from a different root, is formed from the same 
root % without the prefix.] I. intrans. 1. To 
move; pass; proceed; be in motion or pass 
from one point to another by any means or in 
any manner, as by walking, running, or other 
action of the limbs, by riding, etc. 
To the hors he goth him faire and wel. 
Chaucer, Reeve's Tale, 1. 142. 
A gladere woramon vnder Qod no mist go on erthe 
Than was the wif with the child. 
William uf Palerne (E. E. T. S.), 1. 67. 
The wind blowing hard at N. E., there went so great a 
surf as they had much to do to land. 
Winthrop, Hist. New England, I. 231. 
But the standing toast, that pleased the most, 
Was the wind that blows, the ship that goes, 
And the lass that loves a sailor. 
Dibdin, The Lass that Loves a Sailor. 
[In this sense the word is sometimes used elliptically 
so as to appear transitive. See second series of phrases 
below. 
When they go their Processions, with these beasts dis- 
played in their Banners, euery one falleth downe and doth 
worshippe. Purchas, Pilgrimage, p. 674.) 
2. To take steps as in walking ; move step by 
step; walk, as distinguished from running or 
riding: as, the child begins to go alone. 
I may not goon so f er, quod sche, ne ryde. 
Chaucer, Friar's Tale, 1. 295. 
A lytell from thens towardes Jherusalem is the welle of 
Jacob, where ourSauyour Criste, wery of goynge, syttyng 
vpon the welle, axed water of the woman Samaritan. 
Sir R. Guytforde, Pylgrymage, p. 62. 
I purpose to teach a yong scholer to go, not to daunce. 
Ascham, The Scholemaster, p. 161. 
Our souls can neither fly nor go 
To reach immortal Joys. 
Watts, Come, Holy Spirit. 
3. To pass out or away; depart; move from a 
place : opposed to come or arrive : as, the mail 
comes and goes every day. 
2556 
Goth, walketh forth, and brynge us a chalkstoon. 
Chaucer, Canon's Yeoman's Tale, 1. 196. 
When half-gods go, 
The gods arrive. 
Emerson, Give All to Love. 
The phantom of a cup that comes and goes. 
Tennyson, Holy Grail. 
4. To be or keep moving or acting; continue 
in progress or operation; maintain action or 
movement: as, the presses are going day and 
night. 
Clocks will .go as they are set ; but man, 
Irregular man 'a never constant, never certain. 
Otway. 
We do not believe any Government can keep different 
plants, completely outfitted for gun-work, going. 
Michaelis, tr. of Monthaye's Krupp and De Bange, p. 98. 
5. To move in a course, or toward a point or a 
result; move or pass along; proceed; fare: 
used in an immaterial sense : as, everything is 
going well for our purpose. 
How goes the night, boy Y Shak., Macbeth, ii. 1. 
Very desirous they were to hear this noon by the post 
how the election has gone at Newcastle. 
Pepyt, Diary, April 15, 1661. 
Courage, Friend ; To-day Is your Period of Sorrow ; 
And things will go better, believe me, To-morrow. 
Prior, The Thief and the Cordelier. 
Whether the cause goes for me or against me, you must 
pay me the reward. Watts, Logic. 
One that had been strong, 
And might be dangerous still, if things went wrong. 
0. W. Holmes, The Island Ruin. 
6. To pass from one to another; be current; 
be in circulation ; have currency or circulation ; 
circulate : as, so the story goes. 
And the man went among men for an old man in the 
days of Saul. 1 Sam. xvii. 12. 
Thuswmt the Tradition there. Howell, Letters, I. v. 11. 
In any Kings heart, as Kings got now, what shadowie 
conceit or groundless toy will not create a jealousie. 
Milton, Eikonoklastes, ill. 
Sylvia's mother had never stinted him in his meat, or 
grudged him his share of the best that was going. 
Mrs. Qatkell, Sylvia's Lovers, xliii. 
7. To apply; be applicable ; be suited or adapt- 
ed ; fit : as, the song goes to an old tune. 
You must know I con'd this Song before I came In, and 
find it will go to an excellent Ah- of old Mr. Laws's. 
Sterle, Grief A-la-Mode, ii. 1. 
8. To apply one's self ; set or betake one's self ; 
have recourse ; resort : as, to 170 to law ; to go 
to borrowing. 
Seeing himself confronted by so many, like a resolute 
orator he went not to denial, but to justify his cruel false- 
hood. Sir P. Sidney. 
Next we went in hand to draw up his commission and 
instructions. Winthrop, Hist. New England, II. 359. 
9. To be about (to do something); have in 
thought or purpose : chiefly in the present par- 
ticiple with be : as, I was going to send for you ; 
I am going to ride. 
I was going to say, the true art of being agreeable in 
company ... is to appear well pleased with those you 
are engaged with. Steele, Spectator, No. 386. 
10. To proceed by some principle or rule; be 
guided : as, we are to go by the usual practice 
in such cases. 
We are to go by another measure. Sprat. 
11. To be with young ; be pregnant : now used 
only of animals. 
go 
His amorous expressions go no further than virtue may 
allow. Dryden, Pref. to Translation from Ovid. 
wrote a clear, bold, incisive prose, keen 
heart of its 
Once had the early matrons run 
To greet her of a lovely son ; 
And now with second hope she goes, 
And calls Lucina to her throes. 
Milton, Ep. M. of Win. 
12. To be parted with by expenditure or in ex- 
change; be disposed of, sold, or paid out: as, 
the article went for half its value ; the money 
goes too fast. 
What an escape I had at the sale of Dr. Mead's library, 
which goe extremely dear. Walpole, Letters, II. 412. 
Eggs don't go for but ninepence In Livingston or any- 
where else. S. Judd, Margaret, i. 6. 
13. To escape from hold or detention; be 
loosed, released, or freed: only with let: as, 
let me go; let go his hand. 
Let go that rude uncivil touch. Slink., T. G. of V., v. 4. 
14. To extend; reach; lead: as, the wall goes 
from one house to the other ; this road goes to 
Edinburgh. 
The walls extend further north, and go up the middle 
of a small high hill. 
Pococke, Description of the East, II. ii. 87. 
The Household includes the descendants of a common 
great-grandfather, but goes no farther. 
W. E. Hearn, Aryan Household, p. 181. 
15. To extend in effect, meaning, or purport; 
be of force or value ; avail : as, the explanation 
goes for nothing. 
Mitchel . , , 
in its scorn and satire, going directly to the 
purpose. J. McCarthy, Hist. Own Times, xviii. 
16. To tend toward a result or consequence; 
reach; conduce; contribute: frequently with 
to, into, or toward: as, his concessions will go 
far toward a reconciliation. 
Something better and greater than high birth and quali- 
ty must go towards acquiring those demonstrations of pub- 
lic esteem and love. Swift, To Pope. 
17. To contribute in amount or quantity ; be 
requisite or present (to); be necessary as a 
component or a cause: as, in troy weight 12 
ounces go to the pound. 
What little or no pains j 
ilida 
tee to some people ! 
tun. Game at Chess, ii. 1. 
Truly there goes a great deal of providence to produce a 
man's life unto threescore. 
Sir T. Browne, Religio Medici, i. 48. 
18. To pass off well ; move briskly; take; suc- 
ceed : as, the play goes well. 
Society has invented no infliction equal to a large din- 
ner that does not <j<>. as the phrase is. Why it does not <?c 
when the viands are good and the company is bright, is 
one of the acknowledged mysteries. 
Harper's Hag., I.XXVI. 808. 
19. To depart from life ; decease ; die. 
Unless I have a doctor, mine own doctor, 
That may assure me, I am gone. 
Fletcher (and another 1), Prophetess, Iv. 2. 
She sinks again ; 
Again the'tgonc, she's gone, gone as a shadow ; 
She sinks forever, friend ! 
Beau, and Fl., Knight of Malta, Iv. 2. 
Poor Ned Poppy he's gone was a very honest man. 
Steele, Guardian. No. 42. 
Sweeter far is death than life to me that long to go. 
Tennyson, May Queen, Conclusion. 
20. To pass or be resolved into another state 
or condition; assume, resume, or appear con- 
spicuously in any state or condition ; become : 
as, to go crazy; the State will go Democratic 
or Republican. 
Sneer. Why in white satin ? 
Puff. Lord, sir when a heroine goes mad, she always 
goes Into white satin. Sheridan, The Critic, ill. 1. 
Why did the beer go bad ? was the great question to be 
solved, and this was solved by Pasteur. 
Nineteenth Century, XXIV. 844. 
21. To appear: with reference to manner or 
dress. 
She that was ever fair, and never proud, . . . 
Never lack'd gold, and yet went never gay. 
Shak., Othello, il. 1. 
Himself a gallant, that . . . can . . . go richly in em- 
broideries, jewels, and what not 
B. Jonson, Cynthia's Revels, v. 3. 
His brave clothes too 
He has flung away, and goes like one of us now. 
Fletcher (<j?J another), False One, Iv. S. 
All Women going here veiled, and their Habit so gen- 
erally alike, one can hardly distinguish a Countess from a 
Cobbler's Wife. Howell, Letters, I. ill. 32. 
22. To give way; break or tear from a fasten- 
ing. [Colloq.] 
Here is the tear. ... I caught against the flower-pot 
frame, and I'll swear I heard my gown go. 
C. Iteade, Lore me Little, xhr. 
23. To proceed; operate; exercise any kind 
of activity. 
Then the water was thrown on them [the people], and 
they crouded to wipe the vase with their handkerchiefs, 
and went so far as to take the herbs out of the caldron In 
which the water was boiled. 
Pococke, Description of the East, II. 1. 18. 
The Duke of Newcastle . . . is going greater lengths in 
everything for which he overturned Lord Granville. 
Walpole, Letters, II. 104. 
24. To come into action or activity; start into 
motion: as, bang went the gun. 
The Chimes went Twelve : the Guests withdrew. 
Prior, Hans Carvel. 
His noble heart went pit-a-pat, 
And to himself he said " What's that?" 
Cowper, Retired Cat. 
25. To belong in place or situation; require 
to be put: as, this book goes on the top shelf. 
Been and gone and. See been and, under tel. From 
the word go, from the start, as in a race: said of any ex- 
ertion or competition. [Colloq.] Get you gone. See 
gen. Gone to the bow-wows. See bow-wow. Go to, 
come now : an interjectional phrase, often used in con- 
tempt. [Obsolete or archaic.] 
Go to, let us make brick. Gen. xi. 3. 
Go to, go to, thou art a foolish fellow. Shak., T. N., Iv. 1. 
Go to the devil! See devil. To come and go. See 
come. To go aboard. Seeaboardi. To go about, (a) 
[About, adv.] To exert one's self, as for an object; make 
efforts ; take measures. 
