[+ -ING2.]
1. That stings, that has power to sting; used (often as a specific designation) a. of animals.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 82. Iherest tu hu Salomon eueneð bacbitare to stinginde neddre?
1382. Wyclif, Exod. xxiii. 28. Stynggynge flies.
1569. Spenser, Vis. Petrarch, 78. A stinging Serpent by the heele hir caught.
1588. Shaks., Tit. A., V. i. 14. Like stinging Bees in hottest Sommers day.
1670. Milton, Hist. Brit., I. 21. Swarmes of stinging Flies, whereof men dy’d.
1854. A. Adams, etc., Man. Nat. Hist., 228. Stinging-Ants (Myrmicidæ).
1862. T. W. Harris, Insects Injur. Vegetation (ed. 3), 513. The stinging Hymenoptera.
1892. J. A. Thomson, Outl. Zool., x. 121. Cœlenterata or Stinging-animals.
b. of plants.
1525. trans. Brunswyke’s Handywork Surg., xcii. R ij b. With water of the styngynge nettylles.
1593. Shaks., Rich. II., III. ii. 18. Yeeld stinging Nettles to mine Enemies.
1776. J. Lee, Introd. Bot., Explan. Terms 380. Urens, stinging, armed with stings.
1845. Darwin, Voy. Nat., xx. (1852), 464. In the East Indian sea, a stinging sea-weed is said to be found.
1874. Treas. Bot., Suppl. 1344/2. Stinging-bush, Jatropha stimulans.
1887. Hillhouse, Strasburger’s Handbk. Pract. Bot., 77. The stinging hairs of the common stinging nettle (Urtica dioica).
1890. Lumholtz, Cannibals, 252. The stinging-tree (Laportea moroides).
2. transf. That produces a sharp pain or tingling smart, a burning sensation, or the like. Said also of the pain or sensation.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., B. 225. Er þat styngande storme stynt ne myȝt.
1597. A. M., trans. Guillemeau’s Fr. Chirurg., 3/4. He hath a verye prickinge and stinginge payne.
1610. Shaks., Temp., I. ii. 329. Thou shalt be pinch’d As thicke as honycombe, each pinch more stinging Then Bees that made ’em.
1820. Keats, Isabella, xiv. And many once proud-quiver’d loins did melt In blood from stinging whip.
1825. Scott, Betrothed, iii. ‘Good ware,’ he said, ‘Master Butler, strong stinging ware.’
1839. Longf., Wreck of Hesperus, 34. He wrapped her warm in his seaman’s coat Against the stinging blast.
1862. Miller, Elem. Chem., Org. (ed. 2), 333. A concentrated acid liquid, which produces a stinging sensation when applied to the skin.
1866. G. Macdonald, Ann. Q. Neighb., xxix. (1878), 505. Fierce showers of stinging hail.
1889. Jessopp, in Dict. Nat. Biog., XVII. 230/1. She gave Essex a good stinging blow on the face.
1899. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., VIII. 393. Shooting, darting, or stinging pains.
3. fig. That causes sharp mental pain or irritation, poignant; that goads or stimulates. Of speech: Biting, pungent.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 294. Þe delit of þe stincgende lust.
a. 1529. Skelton, Agst. Venomous Tongues, Wks. I. 134. Malicious tunges … Are sharper then swordes…, More stinging then scorpions.
1567. Turberv., Epit., Epigr., etc. 35 b. Doe thy worst to mee thou stinging spite.
1600. trans. Garzoni’s Hosp. Inc. Fooles, 96. They studied quicke and stinging sayings, for the sharpning of their wits.
1647. J. Hall, Div. Poems, II. 82. How stinging are our sorrowes!
a. 1732. T. Boston, Crook in Lot (1805), 31. How could he miss of a stinging remembrance of the cheat he had … put upon his own father?
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xv. III. 541. Eloquent vituperation and stinging sarcasm.
1885. Manch. Exam., 8 May, 5/1. Except a stinging rejoinder from Mr. Pember, nothing more was said.
† 4. Mus. Stinging grace = sting-grace: see STING sb.2 7, 8. Obs.
1676. Mace, Musick’s Mon., 131. You must Pause, and use the Stinging Grace a Pritty while.
Hence Stingingly adv., Stingingness.
1667. H. More, Div. Dial., II. xvii. (1713), 142. A Grief … set off more stingingly to us by the more flush and full representations of another’s Happiness.
1727. Bailey, vol. II., Stingingness, stinging Quality.
1748. T. Smith, Jrnl. (1849), 270. Cold, and the year ends stingingly.
1873. Lytton, Ken. Chillingly, I. viii. Not exactly in those words—more covertly, and therefore more stingingly.
1888. Pall Mall Gaz., 16 May, 11/1. The Government … was stingingly criticised from the Opposition benches.
