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n. 1. The time each morning at which daylight first begins. 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. [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 the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] |
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