Definition of dawn

< Dawes, William

dawn redwood >

dawn    (dôn) KEY 

NOUN:

1. The time each morning at which daylight first begins.
2. A first appearance; a beginning: the dawn of history. See Synonyms at beginning.

intr.v.
dawned, dawn·ing, dawns

1. To begin to become light in the morning.
2. To begin to appear or develop; emerge.
3. To begin to be perceived or understood: Realization of the danger soon dawned on us.

---

ETYMOLOGY:
From Middle English daunen, to dawn, probably a back-formation from dauning, daybreak, alteration of dauing, from Old English dagung, from dagian, to dawn; see agh- in Indo-European roots