Forms: see the verb. [f. TEACH v. + -ING1.] The action of the verb TEACH.
† 1. Showing the way; direction, guidance. Obs.
13[?]. Cursor M., 11656 (Gött.). Forth þai went þar wai fra þan Widvten teching of ani man.
2. The imparting of instruction or knowledge; the occupation or function of a teacher.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 93. Alle þeo … him ihersummede efter godes tecunge.
c. 1275. Passion, 255 in O. E. Misc., 44. He hym axcde of his techinge And of his disciples.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xxvii. (Machor), 372. Thru theching of þe haly gast.
1456. Sir G. Haye, Law Arms (S.T.S.), 68. The barnis … wald nouther tak teching na chastisement of the fader.
1530. Palsgr., 279/2. Teching, lerning, enseignement.
1617. Hieron, Wks., II. 189. It may bee for teaching-sake parted into two portions.
1656. trans. Hobbes’s Elem. Philos. (1839), 80. Teaching is nothing but leading the mind of him we teach, to the knowledge of our inventions, in that track by which we attained the same.
1715. De Foe, Fam. Instruct., I. i. (1841), I. 8. I can say that without teaching.
1862. Helps, Organization, 50. In teaching, he has not to display knowledge, but to impart it.
b. That which is taught; a thing taught, doctrine, instruction, precept.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 2655. And if þou halds mi techeyng: O þe sal com bath prince and king.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. VII. 74. Cui des, videto is catounes techynge.
1482. Monk of Evesham (Arb.), 42. Whyche may be to alle the worlde a nobylle document and techyng.
1542–3. Act 34 & 35 Hen. VIII., c. 1. Suche bookes, writinges. teachinges and instructions, as be pestiferous, and noysome.
1853. J. H. Newman, Hist. Sk. (1873), II. I. iii. 139. In the middle of the fourteenth century, the teaching of Wickliffe gained ground in England.
1856. Stanley, Sinai & Pal., xiii. 426. A character and teaching, human Hebrew, Syrian, in its outward form and colour, but in its inward spirit … Divine.
† 3. Delivering, handing over. Obs. rare.
c. 1300. Cursor M., 15416 (Cott.). In handes yur i [Judas] sal him teche;… And godder-hail þan sal þou se, For luue o þis techeing.
4. attrib. and Comb.
1617. Hieron, Wks., II. 169. God … hath put this teaching-businesse into their hands. Ibid., 283. Vnable to performe this teaching-seruice.
1849. Rock, Ch. of Fathers, I. iv. 300. The Church is the teaching-house of holiness.
1879. P. Brooks, Influence of Jesus, i. 25. Jesus is coming home from one of his teaching-tours in Galilee.
1881. Nature, 17 Feb., 379/2. Preserving the soft tissues … as teaching-specimens.
