gerund

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“
Latin grammar known as the gerund and the gerundive.

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Definitions (6)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (2)

  1. noun In Latin, a noun derived from a verb and having all case forms except the nominative.
  2. noun In other languages, a verbal noun analogous to the Latin gerund, such as the English form ending in -ing when used as a noun, as in singing in We admired the choir's singing.

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Examples (50)

  • Genitive with gerund, as the rule is called, is widely abused and overlooked these days, and there are some cases where the genitive (possessive) is too cumbersome to seriously consider: He lamented some of them (not their) being left behind.
  • A verb that's not a gerund is what This comes up in the context of my discussion of "as well as."
  • Without any planning on Tony's part, he found that he and Angela were (gerund). —  F ;SF - vol 103 issue 02 - August 2002
  • "Well, it's up to us now to restore civilization Considering that ninety percent of humanity has been wiped out, there's an awful lot of (gerund) to do." —  F ;SF - vol 103 issue 02 - August 2002
  • As to his own academic training, there is ample testimony that he appreciated the main classical authors whom he read in the gymnasium at Cassel; but it was refreshing to hear and to read various utterances of his against gerund-grinding and pedantry. —  Autobiography of Andrew Dickson White, V2
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Etymologies (2)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Late Latin gerundium, from alteration (modeled on participium, participle) of Latin gerundum, variant of gerendum, neuter gerundive of gerere, to carry on.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (1)

  1. from Late Latin gerundium, also called gerundivus modus (see gerundive), from gerundus, another form of gerendus, neuter gerundum, gerendum, only in oblique cases, the gerundive and gerund, respectively, of gerere, carry, carry on, perform: so called because, according to the old grammarians, the gerund properly expressed the doing or the necessity of doing something.
 

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/ˈdʒɛrənd/
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