Main Entry:

ger·und

Pronunciation:

\ˈjer-ənd, ˈje-rənd\

Function:

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 action2: 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