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yawning

Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Yawn \Yawn\ (y[add]n), v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Yawned}; p. pr. &
   vb. n. {Yawning}.] [OE. yanien, [yogh]anien, ganien, gonien,
   AS. g[=a]nian; akin to ginian to yawn, g[=i]nan to yawn, open
   wide, G. g["a]hnen to yawn, OHG. gin[=e]n, gein[=o]n, Icel.
   g[=i]na to yawn, gin the mouth, OSlav. zijati to yawn, L.
   hiare to gape, yawn; and perhaps to E. begin, cf. Gr. cheia`
   a hole. [root]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 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 yawn.                     --Shak.

   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; as, to yawn for fat livings. ``One
      long, yawning gaze.'' --Landor.

Source : WordNet®

yawning
     adj 1: gaping open as if threatening to engulf someone or
            something; "the yawning mine shaft"; "a yawning abyss"
     2: with the mouth wide open indicating boredom or sleepiness;
        "a yawning congregation"
     3: showing lack of attention or boredom; "the yawning
        congregation" [syn: {drowsy}, {oscitant}, {yawning(a)}]
     n : an involuntary intake of breath through a wide open mouth;
         usually triggered by fatigue or boredom; "he could not
         suppress a yawn"; "the yawning in the audience told him
         it was time to stop"; "he apologized for his ostinancy"
         [syn: {yawn}, {oscitance}, {oscitancy}]
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