Dawning

Pronunciation

• UK, US IPA: /ˈdɔːnɪŋ/
• US (in accents with the cot-caught merger) IPA: /ˈdɑːnɪŋ/

Alternative forms

• daunyng 15th - 16th centuries

Origin

An alteration of dawing, under the influence of Scandinavian cognates (compare Swedish, Danish dagning).

Full definition of dawning

Noun

1. (now chiefly poetic) Dawn.
• 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book II:& soo they two retorned ageyne in the daunyng of the day ....
• 1874, James Thomson (B. V.), never thereCan come the lucid morning's fragrant breathAfter the dewy dawning's cold grey air
2. The first beginnings of something.
• 1995, , theme:Before each night is done,Their plan will be unfurled,By the dawning of the sun,They'll take over the world.

Verb

1. Present participle of dawn