[f. FLOW v. + -ING1.]
1. The action of the vb. FLOW in various senses.
c. 950. Lindisfarne Gospels, Matt. ix. 20. Wif ðiu blodes flouing ȝeðolade tuelf uinter.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 168/1. Flowynge of þe watur, fluxus.
c. 1489. Caxton, Sonnes of Aymon, xxviii. 589. They founde soo grete a flowynge and gaderynge of the people.
1585. Jas. I., Ess. Poesie (Arb.), 54. They obseruit not Flovving, nor eschewit not Ryming in termes.
1642. Howell, For. Trav. (Arb.), 24. While we are composed of foure differing Elements, wherewith the humours within us symbolise we must have perpetuall ebbings and flowings of mirth and melancholy, which have their alternatif turnes in us, as naturally as it is for the night to succeed the day.
1704. Swift, T. Tub, v. (1709), 77. The happy Turns and Flowings of the Author’s Wit.
1705. Addison, Italy, 513. In this State of Silence to attend the secret Illapse and Flowings in of the Holy Spirit, that may fill their Minds with Peace and Consolation, Joys or Raptures.
1807. J. E. Smith, Phys. Bot., 63. This great motion, called the flowing, of the sap, which is to be detected principally in the spring, and slightly in the autumn, is therefore totally distinct from that constant propulsion of it going on in every growing plant.
1853. Sir H. Douglas, Milit. Bridges (ed. 3), 2. The flowing of water in a river may be considered as analogous to that of water in a pipe proceeding from a reservoir.
2. concr. a. That which flows, that which streams forth, a stream, a wave; also transf. a ‘stream’ or herd of animals. Now rare.
1382. Wyclif, Ps. xcii[i]. 3. Flodis rereden vp ther flowingis. Ibid., Isa. lx. 6. The flowyng of camailes shal couere thee. Ibid. (1388), Josh. v. 1. The Lord hadden dried the flowyngis of Jordan bifor the sones of Israel.
a. 1679. T. Goodwin, Wk. Holy Ghost, I. ix. Wks. 1704, V. 57. The Sun doth first and originally dwell there, whose Emanations and flowings forth they are.
1844. Upton, Physioglyphics, ii. 81. The substance of these rivers does not seem to have been water at all. They were what I may term flowings, which may refer to any other fluid as well as water.
† b. An overflowing; a flood. Obs.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter, xxviii. 9. Lord þe flowynge makis into wone.
1382. Wyclif, Isa. xliv. 3. I shal heelden out forsothe watris vp on the threstende, and flowingus vp on the drie.
1661. Sir E. Turner, Sp. to King, in Parl. Hist. (1808), IV. 244. Your return into this nation in the 12th year of your reign resembles the flowing of the river Nilus in the 12th degree.
1663. in Picton, L’pool Munic. Rec. (1883), I. 328. For preserving of ye same from ye stormes and flowings of ye sea.
3. Naut. (See quot.). Cf. FLOW v. 6 b.
1769–76. Falconer, Dict. Marine, Flowing, the position of the sheets, or lower corners of the principal sails, when they are loosened to the wind.
4. attrib., as flowing-capacity.
1895. Westm. Gaz., 4 June, 3/3. The new aqueduct has a flowing capacity of 300,000,000 gallons a day.
