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View synonyms for gerund

gerund

[ jer-uhnd ]

noun

, Grammar.
  1. (in certain languages, as Latin) a form regularly derived from a verb and functioning as a noun, having in Latin all case forms but the nominative, as Latin dicendī genitive, dicendō dative, ablative, etc., “saying.” gerundive ( def 1 ).
  2. the English -ing form of a verb when functioning as a noun, as writing in Writing is easy.
  3. a form similar to the Latin gerund in meaning or function.


gerund

/ ˈdʒɛrənd; dʒɪˈrʌndɪəl /

noun

  1. a noun formed from a verb, denoting an action or state. In English, the gerund, like the present participle, is formed in -ing

    the living is easy

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


gerund

  1. A form of a verb that ends in -ing and operates as a noun in a sentence: “ Thinking can be painful.”


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Grammar Note

See me.
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Derived Forms

  • gerundial, adjective
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Other Words From

  • ge·run·di·al [j, uh, -, ruhn, -dee-, uh, l], adjective
  • ge·run·di·al·ly adverb
  • non·ge·run·di·al adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of gerund1

First recorded in 1505–15; from Late Latin gerundium, Latin gerundum “that which is to be carried on,” equivalent to ger(ere) “to bear, carry on” + -undum, variant of -endum, gerund suffix
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Word History and Origins

Origin of gerund1

C16: from Late Latin gerundium, from Latin gerundum something to be carried on, from gerere to wage
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Compare Meanings

How does gerund compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

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Example Sentences

Well, if you have, how are you going to spot the gerund and the gerundive?

"Gerund, sir," said the Coffee-colored Angel with more conviction.

She could hardly wait to take off her coat when she reached her room in Mrs. Gerund's lodging-house.

Usually the phrase is used like an adjective; occasionally it is used like a noun (sometimes called the gerund phrase).

The prepositional and infinitive phrases may have all three uses; the participial phrase has two—adjective and noun (gerund).

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gertrudegerundive