vbl. sb. [f. ENGRAVE v. + -ING1.]
1. The action of the verb ENGRAVE; the art of the engraver.
1601. Holland, Pliny, II. 569. There is in marble of his portraying and ingrauing, an old woman drunken.
1696. Bp. Patrick, Comm. Ex. xxxii. (1697), 632. Interpreters take it [a Heb. word] here for an Instrument of Engraving.
1776. Gibbon, Decl. & F., I. 397. The elegance of his designs and engraving.
1837. Penny Cycl., IX. 439/2. In Germany engraving made more rapid strides towards excellence.
2. concr. That which is engraved; an engraved figure or inscription. rare. † Also fig. a deep impression (e.g., on the mind).
1611. Bible, Ex. xxviii. 11. The worke of an engrauer in stone; like the engrauings of a signet.
1677. Hale, Prim. Orig. Man., IV. vii. 355. The Fall of Man did [not] … wholly raze out the Engravings of those common Notions, Sentiments, and rational Instincts that were in them.
1738–41. Warburton, Div. Legat., IV. v. Wks. (1788), II. 552 (R.). It appears … from the engravings on Aaron’s breast-plate, that letters were in common use.
1884. Cyclist, 13 Feb., 243/1. Beautiful specimens of Doulton’s ware, salad bowls and servers, with silver mounts and a suitable engraving.
3. An impression from an engraved plate.
1803. Med. Jrnl., X. 187. Two painted Engravings of Cow-Pock and other Eruptions.
1816. Singer, Hist. Cards, 224. It was not until the latter part of the sixteenth century that engravings on copper were used as embellishments for books in England.
1860. Sala, Hogarth, 117. A handsome cabinet of paintings, drawings, and engravings.
