Etymology Dictionary

AGO, AGONE,  gone away, past.  (E.)   Sometimes explained as if a miswritten form of ygo, the old pp. of go.   This explanation is altogether wrong as far as the prefix is concerned.   It is the M.E. ago, agon, agoon, by no means uncommon, and used by Chaucer, C. T. 1782.   This is the pp. of the verb agon, to go away, pass by, used in other parts of the verb.   Thus we find 'þis worldes wele al agoth' = this world's wealth all passes away; Reliquiæ Antiquæ, i. 160.—A.S. ágán, to pass away (not uncommon); Grein, i. 20.—A.S. á- (G. er-, Goth. us-); and gán, to go.   See Go.   Cf. G. ergehen, to come to pass (which is one meaning of A.S. ágán); Goth. us-gaggan, to go forth.