[f. as prec. + -ING2.] That exhausts; chiefly, that exhausts the strength; wearying, tiring, enfeebling.
18[?]. Mason Good System Med. (L.). A series of exhausting paroxysms succeeds.
1847. Emerson, Repr. Men, Plato, Wks. (Bohn), I. 289. The misfortune … of coming after this exhausting generalizer.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., IV. 397. A mighty effort in truth it was, but too exhausting to be repeated.
1858. O. W. Holmes, Aut. Breakf.-t., i. 6. There are men of esprit who are excessively exhausting to some people.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., I. xi. 71. The exhausting journey over the boulders and débris had been too much for his London limbs.
Hence Exhaustingly adv., in an exhausting manner, so as to exhaust or tire out.
1882. Buxton, in 19th Cent., Nov., 791. The matter … was exhaustively (some might say exhaustingly) discussed.
