[f. SOAR v.]
1. The action of the verb SOAR. Also transf.
1575. Turberv., Faulconrie, 198. They [sc. hawks] flee up aloft upon pleasure which with us falconers is called soring.
c. 1630. Roxb. Ball. (1888), VI. 455. Holow! my Fancie, holow!… stay at home with me! leave off thy lofty soaring.
1651. Davenant, Gondibert, III. V. xxvi. 317. Thy love’s high soaring cannot be a crime.
1722–7. Boyer, Dict. Royal, I. Essor,… flight, or soaring up.
1856. Emerson, Eng. Traits, Literature, Wks. (Bohn), II. 105. The union of Saxon precision and oriental soaring, of which Shakespeare is the perfect example.
1880. Jefferies, Gt. Estate, 132. This soaring and wheeling [of jackdaws] is evidently done for recreation.
2. An instance of this. Also fig. and transf.
1611. Cotgr., Essort,… a soaring, mounting,… high-rising.
1648. Hexham, II. Een Opstijginge, an Ascention, a Mounting, or a Soaring up.
1762. D. Webb, Beauties Poetry, 14. The soarings and stoops of the Eagle.
1786. Parr, Educ., Wks. 1828, II. 109 (Todd). Proverbs … were ambitiously seized by the Lyric and by the Epic muse in … their sublimest soarings.
1805. Wordsw., Waggoner, IV. 80. As if the warbler lost in light Reproved his soarings of the night.
1890. W. Clark Russell, Ocean Trag., I. vi. 127. These irrational soarings of spirits.
