GERUND

noun a kind of verbal noun, having only the four oblique cases of the singular number, and governing cases like a participle.

2. gerund ·noun a verbal noun ending in -e, preceded by to and usually denoting purpose or end;

— called also the dative infinitive; as, "ic haebbe mete to 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.