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yawn (v.)

c. 1300, yenen, yonen, from Old English ginian, gionian "open the mouth wide, yawn, gape," from Proto-Germanic *gin- (source also of Old English giwian, giowian, giwan "to request," Old Norse gina "to yawn," Dutch geeuwen, Old High German ginen"to be wide open," German gähnen "to yawn"), from PIE root *ghieh- "to yawn, gape, be wide open." Modern spelling is from 16c. Related: Yawned; yawning.

yawn (n.)

"act of yawning," 1690s, from yawn (v.). Meaning "boring thing" is attested from 1889.

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Definitions of yawn from WordNet
1
yawn (v.)
utter a yawn, as from lack of oxygen or when one is tired;
The child yawned during the long performance
yawn (v.)
be wide open;
Synonyms: gape / yaw
2
yawn (n.)
an involuntary intake of breath through a wide open mouth; usually triggered by fatigue or boredom;
the yawning in the audience told him it was time to stop
he could not suppress a yawn
Synonyms: yawning / oscitance / oscitancy
From wordnet.princeton.edu

Dictionary entries near yawn

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