-ing

-ing ¹

suff.

1. Used to form the present participle of verbs: seeing.

2. Used to form adjectives resembling present participles but not derived from verbs: swashbuckling.

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[Middle English, alteration (influenced by -inge, noun or gerund suff.; see -ing²) of -ende, -inde, from Old English -ende, present participle suff.]

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-ing ²

suff.

1.

a. Action, process, or art: dancing.

b. An instance of an action, process, or act: a gathering.

2. An action or process connected with a specified thing: berrying.

3.

a. Something necessary to perform an action or process: mooring.

b. The result of an action or process: a drawing.

c. Something connected with a specified thing or concept: siding; offing.

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[Middle English, from Old English -ung, -ing.]

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-ing ³

suff.

One having a specified quality or nature: sweeting.

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[Middle English, from Old English, belonging to, descended from.]