Hypertext Webster Gateway: "gaping"

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Gape \Gape\ (?; in Eng, commonly ?; 277), v. i. [imp. & p. p.
{Gaped} (? or ?); p. pr. & vb. n. {Gaping}] [OE. gapen, AS.
geapan to open; akin to D. gapen to gape, G. gaffen, Icel. &
Sw. gapa, Dan. gabe; cf. Skr. jabh to snap at, open the
mouth. Cf. {Gaby}, {Gap}.]
1. To open the mouth wide; as:
(a) Expressing a desire for food; as, young birds gape.
--Dryden.
(b) Indicating sleepiness or indifference; to yawn.

She stretches, gapes, unglues her eyes, And asks
if it be time to rise. --Swift.
(c) Showing self-forgetfulness in surprise, astonishment,
expectation, etc.

With gaping wonderment had stared aghast.
--Byron.
(d) Manifesting a desire to injure, devour, or overcome.

They have gaped upon me with their mouth. --Job
xvi. 10.

2. To pen or part widely; to exhibit a gap, fissure, or
hiatus.

May that ground gape and swallow me alive! --Shak.

3. To long, wait eagerly, or cry aloud for something; -- with
for, after, or at.

The hungry grave for her due tribute gapes.
--Denham.

Syn: To gaze; stare; yawn. See {Gaze}.

From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)

gaping
adj : with the mouth wide open as in wonder or awe; "the gaping
audience"; "we stood there agape with wonder"; "with
mouth agape" [syn: {agape(p)}]


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