Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Yawn
Yawn
(ya̤n)
, Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Yawned
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Yawning
.] [OE.
yanien
, ȝanien
, ganien
, gonien
, AS. gānian
; akin to ginian
to yawn, gīnan
to yawn, open wide, G. gähnen
to yawn, OHG. ginēn
, geinōn
, Icel. gīna
to yawn, gin
the mouth, OSlav. zijati
to yawn, L. hiare
to gape, yawn; and perhaps to E. begin
, cf. Gr. χειά
a hole. √47b. Cf. Begin
, Gin
to begin, Hiatus
.] 1.
To open the mouth involuntarily through drowsiness, dullness, or fatigue; to gape; to oscitate.
“The lazy, yawning drone.” Shak.
And while above he spends his breath,
The
The
yawning
audience nod beneath. Trumbull.
2.
To open wide; to gape, as if to allow the entrance or exit of anything.
’t is now the very witching time of night,
When churchyards
When churchyards
yawn
. Shakespeare
3.
To open the mouth, or to gape, through surprise or bewilderment.
Shak.
4.
To be eager; to desire to swallow anything; to express desire by yawning;
“One long, yawning gaze.” as, to
. yawn
for fat livingsLandor.
Yawn
,Noun.
1.
An involuntary act, excited by drowsiness, etc., consisting of a deep and long inspiration following several successive attempts at inspiration, the mouth, fauces, etc., being wide open.
One person yawning in company will produce a spontaneous
yawn
in all present. N. Chipman.
2.
The act of opening wide, or of gaping.
Addison.
3.
A chasm, mouth, or passageway.
[R.]
Now gape the graves, and trough their
Imprisoned spirits.
yawns
let looseImprisoned spirits.
Marston.
Webster 1828 Edition
Yawn
YAWN
,Verb.
I.
1.
To gape; to oscitate; to have the mouth open involuntarily through drowsiness or dullness.The lazy, yawning drone.
And while above he spends his breath, the yawning audience nod beneath.
2.
To open wide; as, wide yawns the gulf below.3.
To express desire by yawning; as, to yawn for fat livings.YAWN
,Noun.
1.
A gaping; an involuntary opening of the mouth from drowsiness; oscitation.One person yawning in company will produce a spontaneous yawn in all present.
2.
An opening wide.