[f. EBB v. + -ING2.] That ebbs.
1530. Hist. Jacob & 12 Sonnes (Collier), 19. Layed him on the fome … But … it was ebbing water.
1820. Shelley, Prometh. Unb., III. ii. 28. Borne down the rapid sunset’s ebbing sea.
1837. Marryat, Dog-fiend, xii. They watch’d the ebbing tide.
1845. Darwin, Voy. Nat., xx. (1876), 458. These ebbing wells are common on some of the low islands in the West Indies.
b. transf. and fig.
1597. Daniel, Civ. Wars, VII. 10. For all this ebbing chance, remains The spring that feeds that hope.
1607. Walkington, Opt. Glass, 27.
| How much doth wit to Dithyrambus owe, | |
| Since after wine the ebbingst wit doth flow? |
1610. Shaks., Temp., II. i. 226. Ebbing men … do so neere the bottome run.
1750. trans. Leonardus’ Mirr. Stones, 90. Crisoprasius, is a Stone … of an ebbing and confused Colour.
1786. Burns, Ded. to G. Hamilton, xii. When ebbing life nae mair shall flow.
1807. Crabbe, Par. Reg., I. 295. My ebbing purse, no more the foe shall fill.
1840. G. S. Faber, Regeneration, 263. Mr. Newton’s ebbing and flowing religious impressions.
1866. G. Macdonald, Ann. Q. Neighb., xxi. (1878), 388. These tide-marks indicated ebbing strength.
