GERUND. A traditional term for a VERBAL NOUN, in English a word ending in -ing: visiting in They appreciate my visiting their parents regularly. Like a noun, it can be introduced by the genitive my (compare my visit to their parents), but like a verb it takes the direct object their parents (compare I visit their parents). Some object to the non-genitive usage and avoid it, at least for names and pronouns, preferring They appreciate Bill's visiting their parents to They appreciate Bill visiting their parents and They appreciate my visiting their parents to They appreciate me visiting their parents.

ger·und / ˈjerənd/ • n. Gram. a form that is derived from a verb but that functions as a noun, in English ending in -ing, e.g., asking in do you mind my asking you?.

gerund XVI — late L. gerundium, f. gerundum, var. of gerendum, gerund of gerere carry on.
So gerundial XIX. gerundive adj. pert. to a gerund XVII; sb. gerund XV; passive verbal adjective expressing ‘to be —ed’ XVIII.