\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 h[ae]bbe mete t[^o] 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.