Gerund

Part of speech: noun (n.)

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

2. A verbal noun ending in -e, preceded by to and usually denoting purpose or end; -- called also the dative infinitive; as, "Ic hæbbe mete tô 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.