The spelling of "went away" can be a bit confusing for English language learners. The word "went" is pronounced /wɛnt/ which indicates that the vowel sound is a short "e" sound, as in "pen". Meanwhile, "away" is pronounced /əˈweɪ/ which has a schwa sound for the first vowel, and a long "a" sound for the second vowel, as in "lay". The combination of these two words means that the first syllable of "away" is unstressed and pronounced with a schwa sound.
"Went away" is a phrasal verb that consists of the verb "went" (past tense of "go") and the adverb "away." It refers to the action of leaving or departing from a particular place or situation. It indicates the act of physically moving away, abandoning, or exiting from a given location, situation, or state.
The phrase "went away" is commonly used to describe the act of leaving a place, such as departing from one's home, office, or any physical location. It suggests a change in location or position, indicating that the subject has moved from one place to another, with the emphasis on the physical aspect of movement.
It can also be used to convey the idea of emotionally or mentally distancing oneself or withdrawing from a situation, thought, or feeling. For example, one might say, "I'm feeling overwhelmed, so I need some time alone to go away and clear my mind."
In addition, "went away" can be employed to describe the disappearance or cessation of something. For instance, a headache or illness can be said to have "gone away" when it subsides or disappears completely.
Overall, the phrasal verb "went away" implies the action of departing, abandoning, or removing oneself from a place, situation, or state. It signifies both physical and metaphorical movement, emphasizing the act of leaving.
The word "went away" is a combination of "went" and "away", both of which have separate etymologies:
1. "Went":
The word "went" comes from the Old English word "wendan", which means "to proceed on a journey" or "to depart". Over time, "wendan" evolved into Middle English "wen" and eventually transformed into "went" as the past tense form of the verb "go".
2. "Away":
The word "away" originated from the Old English word "onweg", which combines "on" meaning "on" or "in" and "weg" meaning "way" or "road". The term initially denoted movement on a path or road. Over time, "onweg" transformed into "away", which refers to being distant or removed from a specific location or situation.