dawn

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the earliest period

   the dawn of civilization

2. 2
   noun

   the first light of day

   we got up before dawn

3. 3
   noun

   an opening time period

   it was the dawn of the Roman Empire

4. 4
   verb

   become light

   It started to dawn, and we had to get up

5. 5
   verb

   become clear or enter one's consciousness or emotions

   It dawned on me that I had been betrayed.

6. 6
   verb

   appear or develop

   The age of computers had dawned

7. 7
   verb

   To begin to brighten with daylight.

   A new day dawns.

8. 8
   verb

   To start to appear or become obvious.

   I don’t want to be there when the truth dawns on him.

Etymology

From Middle English dawnen, either a back-formation from dawnynge or a modification of dawen (“to dawn”) after it. The noun is from the verb.