vbl. sb. [f. WIVE v. + -ING1.] The action of the verb WIVE; taking a wife, marrying, marriage.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 5955. He biþoȝte him … ȝif þer miȝte be eny red Þoru wiuinge … vor is wif was ded.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. IX. 181. Whiles þow art ȝonge … Wreke þe with wyuynge ȝif þow wilt ben excused.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., II. ii. (1495), b ij b/1. Angels … for they ben spyrytuall & bodylesse, they nede nother weddynge ne wyuynge.
1542. Udall, Erasm. Apoph., 78. He allowed theim that wer towarde wiuyng, & yet wiued not.
1567. Turberv., Epit., etc., 73 b. Let wyuing go, lyue single aye.
1591. H. Smith, Prepar. Marr., 27. In wiuing and striuing, a man should take counsell of all the world.
1596. Shaks., Merch. V., II. ix. 83. The ancient saying Hanging and wiuing goes by destinie.
1628. Wither, Brit. Rememb., V. 1832. The wivings of the wise King Solomon.
1756. Monitor, No. 35. I. 324. The consequence of so much wiving, was a numerous progeny.
1872. Jeaffreson, Brides & Bridals, II. 54. In a priest the act of wiving was under no lawful circumstances positively sinful.
1910. A. Hilliers, Master-Girl, vi. 152. Since the world and wiving began was there ever such a woman?
attrib. c. 1610. Middleton, etc., Widow, V. i. (1652), 59. [He] Sayes I’m ordain’d for him;… And that his wiving fate speaks in me to him.
So Wiving ppl. a.
1639. Glapthorne, Wallenstein, III. iii. The wiving Vine that ’bout the friendly Elme, Twines her soft limbes.
