When something began or became apparent, or when the sun rose at the beginning of the day.
From Old English 'dagian' related to 'day,' ultimately from Proto-Germanic. Over time, it developed the metaphorical meaning of 'it dawned on me' meaning 'I suddenly realized.'
The phrase 'it dawned on me' is fascinating because we're borrowing the image of sunrise—the moment when darkness suddenly becomes visible—to describe moments of sudden understanding and clarity.
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