[dawn] vi [ME, prob. back-formation fr. dawning daybreak, alter. of dawing, fr. OE dagung, fr. dagian] (15c) 1: to begin to grow light as the sun rises
2: to begin to appear or develop
3: to begin to be perceived or understood "the truth finally ~ed on us"
[2]dawn n (1599) 1: the first appearance of light in the morning followed by sunrise
2: beginning "the ~ of the space age"