Emily Dickinson Lexicon

GAPE, v.i. [Sax. geapan; Sw. gapa; D. gaapen; G. gaffen; Dan. gaber; Ar. خَابَ jauba, to split, tear or cut open.]

1. To open the mouth wide, from sleepiness, drowsiness or dullness; to yawn. Swift.
2. To open the mouth for food, as young birds. Dryden.
3. To gape for or after, to desire earnestly; to crave; to look and long for; as, men often gape after court favor. The hungry grave for her due tribute gapes. Denham. To gape at, in a like sense, is hardly correct.
4. To open in fissures or crevices; as, a gaping rock. May that ground gape and swallow me alive. Shak.
5. To have a hiatus; as, one vowel gaping on another. Dryden.
6. To open the mouth in wonder or surprise; as, the gaping fool; the gaping crowd.
7. To utter sound with open throat. Roscommon.
8. To open the mouth with hope or expectation. Hudibras.
9. To open the mouth with a desire to injure or devour. They have gaped upon me with their mouth. Job xvi.