hängan

Etymology 1
From a conflation of three interrelated verbs all originally meaning “to hang”, but varying in their transitivity and intransitivity: 1.), from (chiefly transitive [sic]), a strong verb with past forms , , from , from . 2.) , from. 3.), from , from , from.

Because of various interferences in the inflected forms, due to grammatischer Wechsel, umlaut and Rückumlaut, these three verbs were bound to be intermingled. Verbs 1 and 2 were merged in such a way that the present stem hang- was combined with the strong past forms of hāhen. This development is first attested in the north and seems to have spread from to Central German dialects of Middle High German (14th century). The present stem is now häng- for all uses. The split is only upheld in the past participle forms, but is not consistently followed. Moreover, many speakers exclusively use the participle.

Verb

 * 1)  to hang; to be suspended
 * 2)  to be attached to; to be fond of; to be devoted to; to cling to
 * 3)  to depend on
 * 1)  to depend on
 * 1)  to depend on

Etymology 2
From (“verb 3” in Etymology 1).

Verb

 * 1)  to hang something; to suspend
 * 2)  to hang someone; to execute by hanging
 * 3)  to hang on to; to follow
 * 1)  to hang on to; to follow
 * 1)  to hang on to; to follow