[f. as prec. + -ING2.] That transports.
1. That removes from one place to another; engaged in transportation.
a. 1618. Raleigh, Apology, 12. That we might have kept our Transporting ships with our men of War.
1830. Lyell, Princ. Geol., I. 312. The direction and position of their destroying and transporting power.
1834–5. J. Phillips, in Encycl. Metrop., VI. 705/1. The transporting action of streams.
1886. Academy, 7 Aug., 82/1. Michael is hurried into the transporting ship which founders with all on board.
2. fig. Causing transport, ecstasy, or rapture; ravishing, enchanting.
c. 1655. A. Sidney, Love (in 19th Cent., Jan. [1884], 58). Epicureans allow soo much of it [Love] as conduceth to pleasure, but reject the transporting part.
1707. Watts, Hymn, ‘My God, the spring of all my joys,’ iv. My soul would leave this heavy clay At that transporting word.
1796. Mrs. Inchbald, Nature & Art, v. So did Henry survey, with transporting glory, his brother, drest for the first time in canonicals.
Hence Transportingly adv., in a transporting manner; ravishingly.
1668. H. More, Div. Dial., II. xi. (1713), 12. We see sundry Species of living Creatures this way the most pleasantly and transportingly provided for.
a. 1711. Ken, Hymnotheo, Poet. Wks. 1721, III. 54. [He] felt himself transportingly amaz’d.
