Also 4–5 lesting. [f. LAST v.1 + -ING1.] The action of LAST v.1; continuance, duration, permanence.
c. 1340. Cursor M., 19562 (Fairf.). In lasting of cristen mannis life.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, IX. 283. Thai had bath bot schort lesting, For thai deit soyn eftir syne.
c. 1400. trans. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh., 108. After þe quantyte of þy tresour is þe lastyng and þe defens, of þy kyngdom.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 299/1. Lestynge, or yndurynge, perduracio.
1580. Hollyband, Treas. Fr. Tong, Longue durée, of long during or lasting.
1597. Bacon, Ess., Reg. Health (Arb.), 58. To be free minded, and chearefully disposed at howers of meate, and of sleepe, and of exercise, is the best precept of long lasting.
1609. B. Jonson, Sil. Wom., II. iii. Thou art made for euer … if this felicitie haue lasting.
1715. Leoni, Palladio’s Archit. (1742), I. 30. To prevent the Doors and Windows from being press’d with too much weight … is of no little importance for the lasting of the Building.
1765. A. Dickson, Treat. Agric., II. (ed. 2), 230. The lasting of the iron plough, and the value of the iron.
b. Staying power; = LAST sb.4 2. Also attrib.
1860. W. H. Russell, Diary India, II. 364. If any true Briton maintains that beef and beer are essentials to develope a man in stature, or strength, or ‘lasting,’ let him look at our camp-servants and own his error.
1898. St. James’s Gaz., 12 Nov., 4/1. That mysterious thing known as ‘lasting power,’ or ‘staying quality.’
