vbl. sb. Now rare. [OE. tácnung (ʓe-), f. tácn-ian, TOKEN v. + -ING1: cf. OHG. zeihnunga, MHG. zeichenunge, Ger. zeichnung, Du. teekening, etc.]
1. The action of the verb TOKEN; representation, signification, meaning, symbolization, betokening, presaging, etc.: see the verb.
c. 888. K. Ælfred, Boeth., vii. § 2. To hwæm cumað hi þon elles butan to tacnunge sorʓes & … sares?
[c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 99. Þe helende ableu his gast on his apostlas for ðere itacnunge þet heo and alle cristen men scullan lufian heore nehstan.]
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 91. Chirche haueð þe tocninge of bethfage.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 6337. Sum-kin takening suld þar be Loken in þir wandes thre.
c. 1410. Sir Cleges, 217. I am aferd yt ys tokynnyng Of more harme that ys comynge.
1496. Dives & Paup. (W. de W.), I. xv. 48/1. Encensynge done … byfore the ymages in dyuerse sygnyfycacyons or tokenynges.
† b. In tokening, in token, as a token or evidence (of). Obs.
c. 890. trans. Bæda’s Hist., II. vi. (1890), 114. Þa he me in tacnunge his lufan bebead.
1297. R. Glouc., Chron. (Rolls), 1165. Ibured it was uorþ wiþ him as in tokninge Of is prowesse.
1456. Sir G. Haye, Law Arms (S.T.S.), 39. A branch of ane olyve tree in takenyng of pes.
a. 1500[?]. Chester Pl., xi. 147. A signe I offer … in tockeninge shee has lived oo in full devocion.
2. A token, emblem, sign, mark; a portent; a signal; † a zodiacal sign (obs.).
c. 888. K. Ælfred, Boeth., viii. § 1. Hwæt syndon ða woruldsælða oðres buton deaðes tacnung?
a. 1300. Cursor M., 11252. Þar es þe king ouer al kinges Born to night wit þir takeninges.
c. 1320. Sir Tristr., 506. Hunters, whare be ȝe? Þe tokening schuld ȝe blowe.
c. 1400. trans. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh., 73. Whenne þe sonne entrys yn to þe firste tokenynge of þe crabbe.
a. 1450. Tourn. Tottenham, 85. A broche on hur brest … With the holy-rode tokenyng, was wrotyn for the nonys.
1553. Douglas’s Æneis, III. vi. 67. I sall the schaw taikynins [ed. Small takins] therof full mete.
1710. Dict. Feudal Law, 151. Taiknings, are Signals given to forwarn people of the approach of the Enemy.
1867. Morris, Jason, III. 46. Bid him hearken, by this tokening, That I, who send thee to him, am the same.
