Ganged

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. Did something collectively with others as a group acting in unison
2. Joined forces or coordinated actions with others to achieve a common purpose
3. Collaborated or combined efforts in a group to perform an activity or task

Etymology: Before "ganged" meant teaming up, the verb "gang" simply meant to go. It comes from Old English "gangan," meaning to go, walk, or turn out, and is related to Scots "gang," Swedish "gånga," and Icelandic "ganga," all still meaning to walk. Its ancestor reaches back to a Proto-Indo-European root for stepping or striding, so the sense of setting out on foot sits at the very core of the word. The noun "gang," meaning a group of people moving together, grew from a different Old English word, "gang," which meant a journey, a way, or a passage. Walking in a company was the original link: a band of people traveling together was simply a "gang" of walkers, and the idea of acting in concert followed naturally from there. The verb's modern sense of joining forces for a task came from the noun. "Ganged" is the simple past of "gang," as in "they ganged up on him," and the word has ancient roots in ordinary motion rather than in any idea of conspiracy or crowds.

Synonyms: grouped, banded, joined, conspired

Antonyms: isolated, separated, detached