[f. WITHDRAW v. + -ING1.] The action of the vb. WITHDRAW in various senses.
c. 1315. Shoreham, IV. 344. Þorȝ cheste and mysdoynge And wyþ-drawynge of god.
c. 1340. Hampole, Prose Treat., 11. All manere of withdraweynge of oþer men thynges wrangwysely agaynes þaire wyll.
1340. Ayenb., 205. Be wyþdraȝinges of mete and of drinke.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., III. 348. Þei maken londis bareyne for wiþdrawyng of werkmen.
c. 1430. Art Nombryng (E.E.T.S.), 4. In withdrawyng .2. nombres ben necessary.
1471. Caxton, Recuyell (Sommer), 262. At the departyng hercules passeth lightly the withdrawyng & departyng of alle hem that were there.
1561. T. Norton, trans. Calvin’s Inst., II. iii. 22. Euen they that are well minded, are subiecte to so many withdrawynges of minde, that they easily … fal awaye.
a. 1651. C. Love, Combat Flesh & Spirit (1654), 6. A double withdrawing of Gods Spirit.
1689. in Acts Parlt. Scot. (1875), XII. 65/1. The fyneing husbands for the wifes withdrawing from the church is contrair to Law.
1748. Anson’s Voy., II. xi. 250. The withdrawing of the guard from the harbour’s mouth.
1817. Coleridge, in Athenæum (1894), 8 Dec., 791/2. The quiet withdrawing from any further connection with him.
1862. Trench, Mirac., v. (ed. 7), 177. A withdrawing of the meaner thing, to make receptive of the better.
b. attrib. (also WITHDRAWING-CHAMBER, -ROOM).
1570. Lambarde, Peramb. Kent (1576), 378. A certaine withdrawing house, called Otforde.
a. 1693. Urquhart’s Rabelais, III. ii. 31. Withdrawing Corners and Refuges to Robbers.
1803. Mary Charlton, Wife & Mistress, IV. 263. Miss Winteram … soon made her withdrawing curtsy.
1821. Scott, Kenilw., vi. They went to the withdrawing apartment.
1898. Alice Maude Ewell, in Century Mag., Jan., 456/1. This withdrawing-ground for retired Sellocks was within the garden inclosure.
