Plural of dawn; the times when daylight first appears each morning. Can also be third-person singular present of 'dawn' meaning to begin to become evident.
From Middle English 'dawen,' ultimately from Old English 'dagian' meaning 'to become day,' related to 'daeg' (day). The word evolved from a verb meaning 'to become day' into a noun representing that specific time period. The metaphorical sense of 'beginning to understand' developed from the idea of light illuminating darkness.
Dawn occurs at different times around the world simultaneously - while you're experiencing sunset, someone exactly opposite on Earth is witnessing dawn! The plural 'dawns' often appears in poetry and literature to represent new beginnings or hope, as in the phrase 'the dawn of a new era,' showing how this daily natural phenomenon has become a powerful metaphor for fresh starts.
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