[f. BE v. + -ING2.]
1. Existing, present; esp. in phr. The time being.
1458. Test. Ebor. (1855), II. 225. The covent of the priore for the tyme beyng, and thaire successours.
1523. Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. ccxii. 257. The kynges of Englande for the tyme beynge.
1788. J. Powell, Devises (1827), II. 341. Where there is a gift to the elder son in terms which would carry it to the eldest for the time being.
2. absol. = It being the case that, seeing, since. See BE v. B. II.