/ˈbiː.ɪŋ/, /ˈbiːŋ/, /ˈbi.ɪŋ/
OriginOriginated 1250–1300 from Middle English being; see be + -ing.
- form-of, gerund, participle, presentpresent participle and gerund of be
- countable, uncountableA living creature.
“Minute grew into minute, and still there was no sign of life, nor did the curtain move; but I felt the gaze of the unknown being sinking through and through me, and filling me with a nameless terror, ”
- countable, uncountableThe state or fact of existence, consciousness, or life, or something in such a state.
“1608-1634, John Webster (and perhaps Thomas Heywood), Appius and Virginia
Claudius, thou / Wast follower of his fortunes in his being.”
“For the service to be considered was not the service of one servant, but of two servants, and even of three servants, and even of an infinity of servants, of whom the first could not out till the seco”
“The written word, he often argued, could only ever be a low-fidelity reproduction of the fullness of being; any text was ultimately humbled by the reality that it sought to represent.”
- countable, uncountableThat which has actuality (materially or in concept).
- countable, uncountableOne's basic nature, or the qualities thereof; essence or personality.
- countable, obsolete, uncountableAn abode; a cottage.
“It was a relief to dismiss them [Sir Roger's servants] into little beings within my manor.”
- Given that; since.
“’Tis a hard matter therefore to confine them, being they are so various and many […].”
Formsbeeing(alternative, archaic) · beïng(alternative, rare) · beings(plural)