Emily Dickinson Lexicon

DAWN, n.

1. The break of day; the first appearance of light in the morning. They arose about the dawn of day. – Josh vi. The word may express the whole time from the first appearance of light to sunrise.
2. First opening or expansion; first appearance of intellectual light; as, the dawn of genius, intellect, or mental powers.
3. Beginning; rise; first appearance; as, the dawn of time. – Shak.
4. A feeble or incipient light; first beams. These tender circumstances diffuse a dawn of serenity over the soul. – Pope.