Ger"und (?), n. [L. gerundium, fr. gerere to bear, carry, perform. See Gest a deed, Jest.] Lat. Gram.
1.
A kind of verbal noun, having only the four oblique cases of the singular number, and governing cases like a participle.
2. AS. Gram.
A verbal noun ending in -e, preceded by to and usually denoting purpose or end; -- called also the dative infinitive; as, "Ic haebbe mete to etanne" (I have meat to eat.) In Modern English the name has been applied to verbal or participal nouns in -ing denoting a transitive action; e. g., by throwing a stone.
© Webster 1913.