The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Dawn \Dawn\ (d[add]n), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Dawned (d[add]nd);
p. pr. & vb. n. Dawning.] [OE. dawnen, dawen, dagen, daien,
AS. dagian to become day, to dawn, fr. d[ae]g day; akin to D.
dagen, G. tagen, Icel. daga, Dan. dages, Sw. dagas. See
Day. [root]71.]
1. To begin to grow light in the morning; to grow light; to
break, or begin to appear; as, the day dawns; the morning
dawns.
[1913 Webster]
In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn
toward the first day of the week, came Mary
Magdalene . . . to see the sepulcher. --Matt.
xxviii. 1.
[1913 Webster]
2. To began to give promise; to begin to appear or to expand.
"In dawning youth." --Dryden.
[1913 Webster]
When life awakes, and dawns at every line. --Pope.
[1913 Webster]
Dawn on our darkness and lend us thine aid. --Heber,
[1913 Webster]