vbl. sb. [f. FIGURE v. + -ING1.]
1. The action of the vb. FIGURE. Also with out.
1534. More, On the Passion, Wks. 1335/1. Hys blessed bodye and bloude in the sacrament, thoughe they seme dead, for the more ful representacyon and fygurynge of the same bodye and bloude remaynynge deade on the crosse.
1648. W. Montagu, Miscellanea Spiritualia: or Devout Essaies, I. xiii. § 6. 168. All those chaines which vain Lovers forge for the figuring out the powerfulnesse of beauty, may be said to be those irons the flesh cast off, and set upon the Spirit, which is truly captivated alwayes by the others liberty.
1859. Geo. Eliot, A. Bede, 5. There’s the sperrit o’ God in all things and all times—weekday as well as Sunday—and i’ the great works and inventions, and i’ the figuring and the mechanics.
1881. Kraus, in Metal World, No. 24. 371. The apprentice should acquire a knowledge of … practical figuring. _
attrib. 1752. N. Dukes (title), A concise and easy Method of learning the Figuring part of Country Dances.
† 2. a. ? Configuration, form (or perh. emblematic significance). b. An impressed shape. Obs.
c. 1385. Chaucer, L. G. W., 298. This flour … bereth our alder pris in figurynge.
1665. Glanvill, Scepsis Scientifica, xxii. 221. Let us consider the different qualities of the Optick nerves, humours, tumours and spirits; the divers figurings of the brain.
3. = Figure-skating.
1869. Vandervell & Witham, Figure-skating, i. 24. From these two figures [3 and 8] … we get the terms ‘figure-skating,’ or ‘figuring.’
