Definitions for gerundˈdʒɛr ənd

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Random House Webster's College Dictionary

ger•und*ˈdʒɛr ənd(n.)

  1. a form in Latin regularly derived from a verb and functioning as a noun, used in all cases but the nominative, as dicendī gen., dicendō dat., abl., etc., “saying.”

    Category: Grammar

  2. a form similar to the Latin gerund in meaning or function, as in English the -ing form of a verb when functioning as a noun, as writing in

    Writing is easy.

    Category: Grammar

* Usage: See me.

Origin of gerund:

1505–15; 蠐 L gerundum that which is to be carried on, der. of ger(ere) to bear, carry on + -undum, var. of -endum gerund suffix

ge•run′di•al•ly(adv.)

Princeton's WordNet

  1. gerund(noun)

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

Wiktionary

  1. gerund(Noun)

    A verbal form that functions as a verbal noun. (In English, a gerund has the same spelling as a present participle, but functions differently.)

    In the phrase u2018Walking is good exercise.u2019, walking is a gerund.

  2. gerund(Noun)

    In some languages such as Italian or Russian, a verbal form similar to a present participle, but functioning as an adverb. These words are sometimes referred to as conjunctive participles.

    In the Russian 'u041Du0435u043Bu044Cu0437u044F u043Fu0435u0440u0435u0445u043Eu0434u0438u0442u044C u0443u043Bu0438u0446u0443 u0447u0438u0442u0430u044F u0433u0430u0437u0435u0442u0443.u2019 (One shouldnu2019t cross a street while reading a newspaper.), u0447u0438u0442u0430u044F u2018while readingu2019 is a gerund.

  3. Origin: From gerundium, from gerundus, future passive participle (gerundive) of gero.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Gerund(noun)

    a kind of verbal noun, having only the four oblique cases of the singular number, and governing cases like a participle

  2. Gerund(noun)

    a verbal noun ending in -e, preceded by to and usually denoting purpose or end; -- called also the dative infinitive; as, "Ic haebbe mete to 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


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