Etymology

From Old High German hīwan ‎(“to marry”). The remarkable semantic development of this verb can be followed from Old High German through Middle High German to modern German dialects; it goes: “to marry” → “to ****” → “to rape” → “to plague” → “to hit” → “to throw”. The last sense is also found in Alemannic German. Cognate with Dutch huwen (“to marry”, in early modern Dutch also “to ****, rape”). Also related with German Heirat ‎(“marriage”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /gəˈhɑɪ̯ən/
• Rhymes: -ɑɪən