Obs. or arch. [f. WEEN v. + -ING1. Cf. OHG. anawânunga ‘existimatio,’ piwânunga ‘deliberatio,’ MHG. wænunge, wenung(e, G. wāhnung.]
1. The action of thinking, supposing, expecting, etc. In ME. often = mere opinion, surmise or suspicion (as opposed to certain knowledge).
c. 900. Bæda’s Hist., IV. xix. (MS. Ca.). Þæt heo ða wenunge æt nyhstan ðurhteah.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 7423. Þer wenyng þat day þey tynt.
1340. Ayenb., 113. Hit is ope substance, þet is, uirtuous and substanciel aboue onderstondingge and wenynge.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XX. 33. Wenynge is no wysdome ne wyse ymagynacioun.
1397. Rolls of Parlt., III. 379/2. It was my menyng and my wenyng for to have do the best.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 2601. Hit is but foly and wrong wenyng To aske so outrageous a thyng.
c. 1420. Prose Life Alex., 36. Ȝe wende hafe done till vs as ȝour eldirs didde sumtyme till kynge ȝerses, bot ȝour wenyng dessayued ȝow.
1477. Norton, Ord. Alch., i. in Ashm. (1652), 22. An old Proverbe, In a Bushell of weeninge, Is not found one handfull of Cunninge.
1570. Dee, Math. Pref., 2. Surmountyng the imperfection of coniecture, weenyng and opinion.
1625. Gill, Sacr. Philos., I. 96. These upstart weenings are so witlesse, as they are false.
a. 1633. G. Herbert, Outlandish Prov., 811. Weening is not measure.
1652. H. Bell, Luther’s Colloq. Mensalia, 225. A Preacher … should … not build upon a weening … but must bee sure of the Caus.
a. 1761. Law, Behmen’s Myst. Magn., xl. (1765), 231. It lies not in any Mans own willing, weening, running, or going to will.
† b. Phrases. To be at or in weening: to be in a state of uncertainty or expectation. To (one’s) weening: to the best of one’s belief. To put in weening: to make (a person) think or believe. Obs.
c. 1275. Passion of our Lord, 595, in O. E. Misc., 54. As heo stode and speken and weren at wenynge Of vre louerdes aryste and fele oþer þinge.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, IV. 765. Sen thai ar in sic venyng, Forouten certane vitting.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xlvi. (Anastace), 184. As he wend he had done til his wenyng Inuch.
c. 1430. Pilgr. Lyf Manhode, I. cviii. (1869), 57. Vn yrened j took it thee, for to my weenynge thou shuldest bere it the bettere.
c. 1440. Partonope, 8588. Ye haue chose some new thinge, And wolde put me in wenyng That it were for good Partonope.
1481. Caxton, Reynard, xvii. (Arb.), 42. Nay I shal brynge you out of wenyng and shewe it you by good wytnes.
12. Arrogant opinion, self-conceit. Obs. Cf. overweening.
1575. Fenton, Gold. Epist. (1582), 88. Temporall riches bring with them pride and wening to him that hath them.
1603. Holland, Plutarch’s Mor., 1016. Yong gentlemen … filled with a great weening and opinion of themselves.
