[f. CONTENT v. + -ING1.]
1. The action of the verb CONTENT; satisfaction, contentment, content. Now rare.
a. 1541. Wyatt, Defence, Wks. 1861, p. xxxiii. Thus was he … dispatched out of Spain smally to his reputation or contenting.
1541. Elyot, Image Gov., Pref. The contentynge of suche men.
1608. Hieron, Wks., I. 698/1. The contenting of mine owne sensuall affections.
1615. Latham, Falconry (1633), 75. Neither can you giue her that which is fitting to her owne contenting, but by guesse and imagination.
† 2. quasi-concr. A source of contentment; a satisfaction, delight; = CONTENT sb.2 3. Obs.
c. 1620. in Farr, S. P. Jas. I. (1848), 102. What if a day, a month, or a yeare, Croune thy delights with a thousand wisht contentings.
1633. P. Fletcher, Death Sir A. Irby, I. iv. As if her tears were all her souls contenting.
