ppl. a. and sb. Also Sc. 5–8 bygan(e, 6 bygo, -gonne; and 6 begonne, 7–9 byegone. [f. BY- 2 d + GONE, pa. pple. of GO. Cf. above-named s.v. ABOVE D. ‘A Scotch word’ (J.); but used by Shakespeare in sense 1.]
A. ppl. a. (In earlier quots. following the sb.)
1. That has gone by, past, (of time) elapsed; that has happened or existed in past time; former.
1424. Sc. Acts Jas. I. (1597), § 30. Gif onie [leagues] hes bene maid in time by-gane.
1452. Earl Douglas, in Tytler, Hist. Scot. (1864), II. 387. Any actions, causes or querrels bygane.
1552. Abp. Hamilton, Catech., 224. To thoil temporal payne for our synnis by gane.
1611. Shaks., Wint. T., I. ii. 32. This satisfaction, The by-gone-day proclaym’d, say this to him.
1788. J. Powell, Devises (1827). II. 315. A child subsequently born was entitled to a share in the by-gone income.
1824. Carlyle, W. Meister (1874), I. II. i. 64. He would recall to memory the scenes of his bygone happiness.
1826. J. Wilson, Noct. Ambr., Wks. 1855, I. 168. I have not smoked a cigar for some months bygone.
† b. = AGO.
a. 1745. Swift, Wks. (1841), II. 47. About five or six and forty years bygone there were certain brass tokens current.
2. Of human beings: Gone out of life, deceased, departed. Also transf. of plants.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, X. v. 168. The worthy actis of ȝour eldaris bygane.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot., II. 669. Herald … The eldest sone of Godowyn bygo.
1832. De la Beche, Geol. Man., 195. The roots … of the by-gone annuals … are matted together.
1856. Kane, Arct. Expl., II. xv. 159. These evidences of a bygone generation of their fathers.
b. Belonging to past times.
1869. Dickens, Lett. (1880), II. 413. I hate the sight of the bygone assembly-rooms.
B. sb. [the ppl. adj. used ellipt.]
1. pl. Things that are past; esp. past offences.
1568. Q. Mary, in H. Campbell, Love-lett. Mary Q. Scots, App. 29. For good amitie, as well for bygonnes as to come, betwixt them and all our obedient subjects.
1649. Bp. Guthrie, Mem. (1702), 75. That bygones on both sides should be passed by.
1790. Morrison, Poems, 135 (Jam.). All byganes are forgot and gone, And Arthur views her as his own. [See also c.]
b. Payments overdue; arrears.
1663. Spalding, Troub. Chas. I. (1829), 25. [They] compelled the tenants … to produce their last acquittances and pay them bygones.
1721. Wodrow, Hist. Ch. Scot., II. 256 (Jam.). He could have no warrant for bygones [of his stipend], unless he would … conform to the established church.
c. esp. in phr. Bygones are bygones, let bygones be bygones, etc. (Rarely in collect. sing.)
1636. Rutherford, Lett., lxii. (1862), I. 166. Pray … that byegones betwixt me and my Lord may be byegones.
1648. Nethersole, Parables, 5. Let bygans be bygans.
1758. Chesterf., Lett. (1792), IV. 147. By-gones are by-gones, as Chartres, when he was dying, said of his sins.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev. (1871), II. V. i. 166. Bygone shall be bygone; the new Era shall begin!
1847. Tennyson, Princess, IV. 51. Nor is it Wiser to weep a true occasion lost, But trim our sails, and let old bygones be.
1864. Burton, Scot Abr., I. iii. 118. The truce … was cordially ratified; bygones were counted bygones.
2. Past time; the past. rare.
1872. W. F. Butler, Gt. Lone Land, iii. (1873), 24. Bunker has long passed into the bygone; but his hill remains.
1887. Sala, in Illustr. Lond. News, 19 March, 306. Dealings with booksellers in the bygone.
