Adjacent Words

Gerund definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

GER'UND, n. [L. gerundium, from gero, to bear.] In the Latin grammar, a kind of verbal noun, partaking of the nature of a participle.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a noun formed from a verb (such as the `-ing' form of an English verb when used as a noun)

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: Late Latin gerundium, from Latin gerundus, gerundive of gerere to bear, carry on Date: 1513 1. a verbal noun in Latin that expresses generalized or uncompleted action 2. any of several linguistic forms analogous to the Latin gerund in languages other than Latin; especially the English verbal noun ending in -ing that has the function of a substantive and at the same time shows the verbal features of tense, voice, and capacity to take adverbial qualifiers and to govern objects

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. Gram. a form of a verb functioning as a noun, orig. in Latin ending in -ndum (declinable), in English ending in -ing and used distinctly as a part of a verb (e.g. do you mind my asking you?). Etymology: LL gerundium f. gerundum var. of gerendum, the gerund of L gerere do

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Gerund Ger"und, n. [L. gerundium, fr. gerere to bear, carry, perform. See Gest a deed, Jest.] (Lat. Gram.) 1. A kind of verbal noun, having only the four oblique cases of the singular number, and governing cases like a participle. 2. (AS. Gram.) A verbal noun ending in -e, preceded by to and usually denoting purpose or end; -- called also the dative infinitive; as, ``Ic h[ae]bbe mete t[^o] etanne'' (I have meat to eat.) In Modern English the name has been applied to verbal or participal nouns in -ing denoting a transitive action; e. g., by throwing a stone.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(gerunds) A gerund is a noun formed from a verb which refers to an action, process, or state. In English, gerunds end in '-ing', for example 'running' and 'thinking'. N-COUNT