1. Intention, purpose; also, endeavor.
c. 1325. E. E. Allit. P., B. 688. & alle myne atlyng to Abraham vn-haspe bylyue.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, I. 587. Off hys etlyng rycht swa It fell, As I sall eftirwartis tell.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, Magdalena, 564. & sowne þai arywinge mad In þe porte quhare þai etline had.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, X. 166. For charge off nan, bot it had ben his king At mycht that tym bryng him fra his etlyng.
1822. Galt, Steam-boat, 125 (Jam.). But there was an ettling beyond discretion perhaps in this.
† 2. Conjecture, estimation. Wiðuten eni etlunge (early ME.): without any guessing, unquestionably. Obs.
c. 1205. Lay., 25761. Bi atlinge [c. 1275 hatling] heom þuhte þritti uoðere.
c. 1230. Hali Meid., 39. Muche mare he haueð wiðuten eni etlunge at halden to him seluen.
a. 1240. Sawles Warde, in Cott. Hom., 263. Wið uten ei etlunge þen of his ahne gleadunge.
† 3. Preparation. Obs.
1340–70. Alisaunder, 266. Redy too fight With atling of areblast & archers ryfe.
