[f. QUESTION v. + -ING1.]
1. The action of the vb., in various senses.
a. 1635. Sibbes, Confer. Christ & Mary (1656), 94. The ministeriall questioning of sinners.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., 208. The questioning of their true endowments.
1776. Johnson, in Boswell, Mar. (at Lichfield), Questioning is not the mode of conversation among gentlemen.
1861. Geo. Eliot, Silas M., 48. Silas now told his story under frequent questioning.
attrib. 1837. Whewell, Hist. Induct. Sc., I. 25. The vigour and confidence of the questioning spirit.
2. With a and pl.: An instance of this.
3. Hieron, Wks., I. 266. An aduised questioning with himselfe, touching the value of this offered treasure.
1677. Gilpin, Dæmonol. (1867), 303. Unseemly questionings of his goodness and compassion.
1803–6. Wordsw., Ode Intim. Immort., 142. Those obstinate questionings Of sense and outward things.
1885. Sir R. Baggallay, in Law Rep. 15 Queen’s Bench Div. 59. There are four species of questionings to which the debtor is to be subject.
