[f. CONTRACT v. + -ING1.] The action of the verb CONTRACT (in various senses).
1585. Abp. Sandys, Serm. (1841), 50. God cannot be better served, than if by law ye restrain this unlawful contracting.
1637. Heywood, Anna & Ph., Wks. 1874, VI. 316. Many virgins at their contractings rather consent then speake.
1653. H. Cogan, trans. Pinto’s Trav., lxxvi. 311. The contracting of a new league with the great King of Portugal.
1668. Hale, Pref. Rolle’s Abridgm., 5. The contracting of the Laws into a narrower compass and method.
1692. Ray, Dissol. World, 43. The contracting of the Age of the Postdiluvians.
b. attrib. Relating to a contract or agreement.
1649. Jer. Taylor, Gt. Exemp., III. xv. 37. The present miraculous graces of the holy Spirit were an earnest and in the nature of a contracting peny.
