[f. STAND v. + -ING1.]
1. The action of the vb. STAND, in various senses; an instance of this.
1382. Wyclif, Ecclus. xxvii. 15. The myche swering speche shal sette stonding [1388 schal make stondyng up] of heer, for fer, to the hed [Vulg. horripilationem capiti statuet].
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XIII. ii. (1495), 440. Pytte water is thickest and worst to defye … for stondynge of the water.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 477/1. Stondynge, noþer syttynge ne walkynge, status.
c. 1450. [see SITTING vbl. sb. 1].
c. 1530. Judic. Urines, III. iii. 48 b. The standyng long tyme of ye burbels in ye vrinal sheweth that ye sekenes hath long tyme contynued.
1561. Norton & Sackv., Gorboduc, V. ii. 27. One sort that saw the dangerous successe Of stubborne standing in rebellious warre.
1678. Walton, Life Sanderson, b 4. His former standing for a Proctors place, and being disappointed, must prove much displeasing.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, III. 382/1. A long piece of Copper … having the ends bent down … and then bent out again for its more steady standing.
1770. Langhorne, Plutarch, Marcus Crassus (Rtldg.), 385/1. When they [the barbarians] saw the depth of the Roman battalions, the closeness of their order, and the firmness of their standing, they drew back.
1840. Barham, Ingol. Leg., Jackd. Rheims. He cursed him in sitting, in standing, in lying.
attrib. 1900. H. Lawson, On Track, 38. Another timber,… much inferior in grain and ‘standing’ quality, was plentiful.
b. With advs. (See STAND v. IV.) Standing out: † concr. a projection. (Obs.)
1608. Topsell, Serpents, 247. About the mouth there appeare and seeme to bud forth three eminenties or standings out.
1611. Shaks., Wint. T., III. ii. 191. Poore Trespasses, More monstrous standing by.
1616. Lane, Contin. Sqr.’s Tale, x. 599. Other ancientes it [this towne] Rosalia call; others, the standinge vp of them which fall.
1622. Fletcher, Beggar’s Bush, V. ii. And since the standing out of Bruges, where Hemskirk had hid her, till she was near lost.
1683. Moxon, Mech. Exerc., Printing, xvii. ¶ 3. They raise a Bur on the Face … to keep the Matrice off the Carriages and Bodies…. But … the hollow standing off of the Face of the Matrice from the Carriages and Bodies, subjects the Mettal to run between them.
1884. Law Rep. 26 Chanc. Div. 790. In order to shew acquiescence he must shew a standing by with full knowledge of what was being done.
Winchester School. 1903. Christabel Coleridge, Life C. M. Yonge, iii. 93. It was the week before the ‘Standing Up’ i.e. the repetition of an incredible number of lines of Latin or Greek poetry.
c. The state of being without movement either progressive or retrogressive; the condition of being at a standstill. Also standing still. † Standing of the sun = SOLSTICE 1.
c. 1440. Pallad. on Husb., VII. 71. Brasike is sowe at stondyng of the sonne.
c. 1530. Judic. Urines, II. vi. 26 b. Yf the vryne come out in lesse quantyte … than it dede in the standyng or in the encresyng, or … in the begynnyng of the ague.
1552. Huloet, s.v. Heate, Solstitium … is sometyme more aptlye taken for the staye or standynge of the sunne, whyche is twise in the yeare.
1648. Hexham, II. Den stil-standt der Zonne, the Solstice, or the Standing still of the Sunne.
d. Erect position; condition of not falling or being overthrown. lit. and fig. Now rare or Obs.
1709. Stanhope, Paraphr., IV. 283. They … not only recover their Standing, but even profit themselves of their Fall.
1737. Gentl. Mag., VII. 556/2. He kick’d every one of them out of Office … except Buckingham, and he ow’d his Standing to the Prince.
1746–7. Hervey, Medit. & Contempl. (1818), 73. Afraid to plunge into the abyss of eternity, yet utterly unable to maintain their standing on the verge of life.
e. Phr. To be in good standing with = to stand well with, be in favor with: cf. STAND v. 15 c.
1912. Eng. Hist. Rev., XXVII. Oct., 652. For a number of years after this Eustace was in good standing with the English king.
† 2. Manner of standing. a. Relative position (of a number of persons or things, or of one with reference to others.) b. Situation, site, aspect (of a building, etc.). c. Posture, attitude (of a person); position (of a thing) as erect, horizontal, etc. Obs.
a. c. 1407. Lydg., Reas. & Sens., 6591. Y Haue declared … The maner and the ordynaunce of ther [i.e., the queen’s pawns] stondyng.
1591. Savile, Tacitus, Hist., III. xxii. 127. The order and standing of the Vitellian army I dare not for certaine auouch.
1600. Surflet, Country Farm, III. xliv. 510. That you may fitly appoint the standings of trees.
1712. J. James, trans. Le Blond’s Gardening, 84. If the Eye be applied too near the Stick, a Defect in the standing of the others can’t be so well perceived.
1733. W. Ellis, Chiltern & Vale Farm., 350. The double Rows were apt to heat each other by their close standing.
b. 1538. Elyot, Dict., Situs,… also the settynge or standinge of a place, which is now called the syte.
1561. T. Norton, Calvin’s Inst., I. xiv. (1634), 73. To set and fasten some of them [sc. stars] in their standings, and to other some, to grant a free course.
1647. Clarendon, Hist. Reb., IV. § 8. They … resolved that the standing of the communion-table in all churches should be altered.
1665. Sir T. Herbert, Trav. (1677), 83. Baroch is visible by reason of her high standing a good way distant.
1682. ‘R. Burton,’ Admir. Curios., 67. Yet is the Structure better than the standing thereof, as being somewhat low on the one side.
c. 1540. Morysine, trans. Vives’ Introd. Wysd., A viij b. A ryght gentyll man is he, whom nature hathe fashyoned and set, as it were in a standyng for the recepte of vertue.
1545. Ascham, Toxoph., II. (Arb.), 147. The fyrste poynte is … to take suche footyng and standyng as shal be … cumlye to the eye.
1611. Second Maiden’s Trag., 1041 (Malone Soc.). I like the standing of my head too well to haue it mended.
1683. Moxon, Mech. Exerc., Printing, xxiv. ¶ 2. [They] try whether the Stone lye truly Horizontal, which they know by the standing of the Water: For if the Water delate itself equally about the middle of the Stone, the Stone lies Horizontal.
1801. T. Roberts, Eng. Bowman, 294. Standing, the.—The posture in which an archer stands, when he shoots.
† d. The position of the indicator of a graduated instrument. Obs.
1669. Sturmy, Mariner’s Mag., II. xiii. 82. Keeping in memory such standing of the Staff, I take off the one Cross, and set the Staff again.
1676. H. More, Remarks, Contents b 4 b. The various standing of the Mercury in the Tube, according to the change of weather.
a. 1734. North, Life Ld. Keeper Guilford (1742), 293. The standing of the Mercury, in the Tube, is always taken upon the Distance of the upper from the lower Superficies.
3. An act of standing erect on one’s feet; a period during which one keeps a standing position.
1653. Walton, Angler, ix. [xii.] 181. They may be at one standing, all catch’d one after another.
1850. Sarah, Lady Lyttelton, Corr., xvi. (1912), 407. I never was more knocked up than last night, by … several long standings with Her Majesty over the mess.
1904. Edin. Rev., Jan., 112. The gentleman [Herrick] in Horace who could reel you off two hundred verses at a standing was very proud of his fluency.
4. A standing-place, station; standing-room. a. The place in or upon which a person stands. Phrases to take, keep one’s standing. ? Obs. Also, accommodation for one person to stand (at a show or the like); standing-room. Cf. STAND sb. 11.
1382. Wyclif, Isa. xxii. 19. And I shal putte thee out fro thi stonding, and fro thi seruyse I shal depose thee.
1542. Brinklow, Compl., 34 b. Thei must take standings in Shoters Hill, in Newmarket Heath, and in Stangate Hole.
1571. Digges, Pantom., I. xii. D iij. The Base being euen with your standing. Ibid. The distance between the two standings is vndoubtedly the lengthe.
1586. Marlowe, 1st Pt. Tamburl., I. ii. Keep all your standings and not stir a foot.
c. 1595. Capt. Wyatt, R. Dudley’s Voy. W. Ind. (Hakl. Soc.), 59. Himselfe toke his standinge on the open deck.
1598. R. Bernard, trans. Terence (1607), Andria, II. ii. I got me vpon a high standing, and looked round about me.
1609. Holland, Amm. Marcell., XXIV. x. 255. The rest of the souldiors … gained the passing high and difficult bankes, and firmely kept their standing.
a. 1626. Middleton, Women Beware Women, I. iii. Now they come!… You, sirrah, get a standing for your mistress.
1661. Dryden, To H. S. Majesty, 38. Your cavalcade the fair spectators view From their high standings, yet look up to you.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe, II. (Globe), 392. In this [hollow] Tree they both took their Standing.
1795. Cowper, Needless Alarm, 120. We have at least commodious standing here.
1801. Strutt, Sports & Past., II. i. 61. His longest shot fell upwards of four hundred and eighty yards from his standing.
1809. Malkin, Gil Blas, XII. i. (Rtldg.), 422. Along the streets where the procession was to pass were scaffolds, on one of which I purchased a standing.
b. fig.
1563–83. Foxe, A. & M., 707/2. God … hath found a way by this facultie of Printing … to cast down the foundation of his [the pope’s] standing.
1656. Cromwell, Sp., 17 Sept. And so many as … do own your standings wherein the Providence of God hath set and called you to this work, will carry it on.
1669. O. Sansom, in Acc. Life (1710), 70. With earnest desires, that you would consider your own States and Standings, every one of you, whether you are not in the Broad way.
1676. W. Allen, Addr. Non-Conf., 47. Some of them believed this; and so kept their standing in the Church.
1856. N. Brit. Rev., XXVI. 43. What should prevent our receding and taking a still lower standing?
† c. A hunter’s station or stand from which to shoot game. Obs.
c. 1400. Master of Game (MS. Digby 182), xxxv. Þenne shulde þe maister of þe game … meete þe kynge and brynge hym to his stondynge and telle hym what game is withinne þe sette.
1551. Sir J. Williams, Accompte (Abbotsf. Club), 87. For newe makinge a standinge in Combes parke.
1576. Turberv., Venerie, lxvi. 187. And thus you may trayne a foxe to a standing and kyll him in an evening with a Crossebowe.
1600. Maids Metam., III. 1. And yet my maister wayteth with his bowe, Within a standing, for to strike a Doe.
1616. Manifest. Abp. Spalato’s Motives, App. III. 6. Imitating the Huntsman, who bending his bow to strike a faire Stagge, puts forth towards the Standing, for shew, other raskall Deere with him.
d. A place in which cattle and horses may stand under shelter; a stable; standing-accommodation for one animal; stable-accommodation for horses or a horse. Now dial.
c. 1440. Pallad. on Husb., I. 523. Let make an hous for bestis…. Of forkis, & of boord, & bouwes colde. A stondyng most be maad.
1510. Stanbridge, Vocabula (W. de W.), C v. Stabulum, a stable or a stondynge.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts, 610. They also had a care to couer all the flower [of their sheep-stables] with strawe … to the end they might not be annoyed in their owne standings.
1714. T. Ellwood, Life (1765), 66. Sir, don’t you forget to pay for your Horse’s standing?
1813. Sporting Mag., XLII. 54. Converting … all the loose stalls of a stable into loose standings.
1886. W. Somerset Word-bk., s.v., So John ’ve a-tookt the Dree Cups (Inn); I do year ’tis capical premises, an stannins for up thirty osses.
transf. 1798. Times, 28 June, 4/2. A Neat Cottage [with] … standing for chaise, stable and good garden.
† e. Stopping-place, goal. Obs. rare.
c. 1510. Gesta Rom. (W. de W.), A ij. The whyle she was in takynge vp the thyrde balle, the knyght gate afore her, and was fyrst at the standynge.
† f. A place of settlement or encampment. Obs.
1598. Grenewey, Tacitus, Ann., I. x. (1622), 19. The fift, and one and twentith legion, lodged in winter standings threescore miles of, at Vetera.
1611. Speed, Theat. Gt. Brit. (1614), 137/2. But then no longer able to hold out against them, they left their standings and departed the land.
g. A stand for carriages plying for hire.
1853. Act 16 & 17 Vict., c. 33 § 6. The several standings for hackney carriages … within the Metropolitan district.
5. A position for or occupied by a booth, stall, or the like; a booth or stall occupying such position. Now dial.
a. 1547. in J. R. Boyle, Hedon (1875), App. p. lxxx. Evrie man that hath a standing of vij. fote on Holyruddaie, except they be free, shall paye ij.d.
1577. Leigh, Surv. (1596), D 3. Booths, Standings, shambles, and tolles,… of a weeklie market.
1626. in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. V. 338. If any … of the company of taylors … shall departe his shopp or standing, to worke in any man’s house.
1766. Entick, London, IV. 252. The clothiers … had their booths and standings within the church-yard.
1808. Beverley Lighting Act, 16. Placing of stalls and standings on the market and fair days in the streets.
1858. Simmonds, Dict. Trade, Standing, a stall placed in a market, or on the foot pavement in a street; a workman’s loom in a lower flat or story.
1886. W. Somerset Word-bk., s.v., Butcher Morgan ’ve a-paid for a stan’in’ in our market ’is number o’ years.
† 6. Something upon which a person or thing stands; a stage; a base, foundation. Obs.
1382. Wyclif, 2 Chron. vi. 13. Salomon hadde maad the brasyn stondynge [1388 foundement, Vulg. basis], and hadde putte it in the mydil of the grete hous.
1556. Chron. Grey Friars (Camden), 71. Item the xxvj. of September [1551], was the stondynge at the tabulle in Powlles was removyd into the sowth.
1558. in E. B. Jupp, Carpenters’ Co. (1848), 51. Payd for the caryage of or standyng into fanchirche Strete at the commyng in of quene elizabeth … vijd.
1585. Higins, Junius’ Nomencl., 190/2. Fori,… the galleries or standings for the beholders of plaies: the scaffoldes.
a. 1641. Finett, For. Ambass. (1656), 64. The French Ambassador in the first window … and the Spanish in a standing dressed up of purpose over the Porters lodge.
7. † a. Continuance in existence; duration. Obs.
1600. J. Hamilton, in Cath. Tract. (S.T.S.), 243. This heresie [adultery] baith repugnes to the trew law of God and is preiudiciable to the lawful standing of Noble houses.
1611. Shaks., Wint. T., I. ii. 431. The Fabrick of his Folly, whose foundation Is pyl’d vpon his Faith, and will continue The standing of his Body.
1690. in Nairne Peerage Evid. (1874), 26. All … teynd duties payable furth of the estate during the standing of the marriage.
b. The state or fact of having existed for a longer or shorter period of time; degree of antiquity. (Now only of immaterial things.) Chiefly in phrases, of old, ancient, † late standing. Cf. LONG STANDING.
1656. Earl Monm., trans. Boccalini’s Advts. fr. Parnass., I. l. (1674), 65. The Titolari were of much later standing than Doctors.
1674. N. Fairfax, Bulk & Selv., 154. The next thing to be handled is, Of what standing the world may be.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, III. 318/2. Another fashion of Compasses … not much differing from them though of an Elder standing.
c. 1710. Celia Fiennes, Diary (1888), 68. The Skull was whole and the teeth firme, tho’ of so many yeares standing.
1780. Mirror, No. 86. It expelled a gout, of thirty years standing.
1796. Pegge, Anonym. (1809), 49. This is reckoned a proverb of a late standing.
1801. Strutt, Sports & Past., I. i. 13. These privileges were of ancient standing.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., I. I. ii. There is a quarrel of twenty-five years’ standing with the Parlement.
1888. Bryce, Amer. Commw., II. xl. 89. Other restrictions … such as the exclusion of clergymen, which still exists in six States, and is of old standing.
1891. Law Times, XC. 395/1. She was suffering from tuberculosis of long standing.
c. Age (of a tree).
1830. J. G. Strutt, Sylva Brit., 3. An oak of sixty years standing will in twenty-four years double its contents of timber.
1837. P. Keith, Bot. Lex., 245. If we estimate its [the oak’s] standing upon the principle of the usual rule, we shall have to give it an antiquity of upwards of 2000 years.
8. Length of service, experience or residence; position as determined by seniority in membership of a university, a profession, etc.
1580. G. Harvey, in Grosart, Spenser’s Wks., I. 436. What greater and more odious infamye for one of my standinge in the universitye and profession abroade then to be reckoned in the Beade-roule of Inglish Rimers.
1648. Jenkyn, Blind Guide, i. 7. Sundry who exceed Master Goodwin in standing, and very much in understanding.
1651. Lamont, Diary (Maitl. Club), 26. They came in order to the king (from the youngest in standing to the eldest).
1711. Steele, Spect., No. 252, ¶ 3. I am a Practitioner in the Law of some standing, and have heard many eminent Pleaders in my time.
1713. Guardian (1756), I. No. 2. 14. He was sent for a little before he was of bachelor’s standing.
1740. J. Clarke, Educ. Youth (ed. 3), 120. School-boys, of the oldest Standing.
a. 1790. T. Warton, in Boswell’s Johnson, an. 1754. One of the fellows, and of Johnson’s standing.
1803. Gradus ad Cantabr., 131. Standing; academical age, or rank. ‘Of what standing are you? I am a Senior Soph.’
1821. Lamb, Elia, Ser. I. Old & New Schoolm. I know less geography than a schoolboy of six weeks’ standing.
1841. Thackeray, Gt. Hoggarty Diam., vi. The Company was only four years old, and the oldest clerk in it had not six months more standing in it than I.
1876. Firth, Munic. Lond., 42. Such of the Liverymen of the various City Companies as are of one year’s standing, free of the City.
1888. Burgon, Lives 12 Gd. Men, I. i. 69. He inquired after my standing in the University.
1892. Law Times, XCIII. 550/1. To whose kind co-operation I, as a judge of long standing, feel that I ought to pay my tribute.
b. of a thing.
1885. R. L. & F. Stevenson, Dynamiter, i. One of those gigantic Highlanders of wood which have almost risen to the standing of antiquities.
¶ c. (A person’s) age. rare.
1789. Charlotte Smith, Ethelinde, II. 127. Why you was considering how much younger you look than she does, though you are I suppose about the same standing.
9. Grade or rank in society, a profession, the world of commerce, religion, or the like; status.
1607. Shaks., Timon, I. i. 31. Pain. A Picture sir…. Poet. Admirable: How this grace Speakes his owne standing: what a mentall power This eye shootes forth.
1727. De Foe, Eng. Tradesm., i. (1841), 7. The young Man should confine himself absolutely to such as are of like standing with himself.
1844. H. H. Wilson, Brit. India, III. ix. III. 529. Barristers of high standing.
1862. Trollope, Orley Farm, xxxv. She also thought of Sir Peregrine’s grey hairs, and of his proud standing in the county.
1866. Crump, Banking, i. 12. We must … keep before us the commercial standing of the countries in which these banks were created.
1866. Mrs. Gaskell, Wives & Dau., xiii. She took standing with him as a young lady at once.
1867. Smiles, Huguenots, vii. (1880), 121. Satisfactory evidence was required of the character and religious standing of the new refugees.
1889. M. Creighton, Hist. Ess., vii. (1902), 232. Men of some standing in the neighbourhood were chosen.
1902. Violet Jacob, Sheep-Stealers, ix. Now that he had become a man of money and standing.
† 10. [Perh. from the ppl. a.] A tree left standing, a standard. Also, a supporting pole. Obs.
1580. in Collect. (O.H.S.), I. 237. He will always leave sufficient standards and standinges.
1800. Hull Advertiser, 7 June, 3/3. The country people went into the hop-gardens … and some pulled down the standings.
11. attrib. and Comb.: † standing-bar, a bar that brings a person to a stand; standing-bench, a bench adapted for work to be done standing; standing-ground, ground upon which a contest is or may be fought or upon which a stand is or may be made, lit. and fig.; ground upon which a person or thing may (safely) stand, lit. and fig.; † standing part, the part or rôle of one who stands; standing point = STANDPOINT; standing-post, the spot where one stands; standing room, space in which to stand; accommodation for persons or a person standing; † standing stool, a stool for the support of a child while learning to walk. Also STANDING PLACE.
1720. Waterland, Eight Serm., viii. 319. Baptism; which was one of the Best Fences to the true Faith, and a *standing-Bar to most Heresies.
1866. Chamb. Encycl., VIII. 691/1. A simple … work-bench, at which shoes may be made standing. Of this *standing-bench, we offer a sketch.
1846. W. H. Mill, Five Serm. (1848), 51. In opposing them we shall proceed … on that firm *standing-ground which all our truly great Divines have marked out, of adherence to the principles of the Ancient Church.
1864. Huxley, Compar. Anat., vi. 87. Only those [systems of classification] published … since our knowledge of the anatomy of these animals has approached completeness, have now any scientific standing-ground.
1865. Kingsley, Herew., vii. How villainous for men on foot, not only to face knights but to bring them down to their own standing ground by basely cutting off their horses’ heads!
1874. Stubbs, Const. Hist., I. iv. 60. The concessions … had given the invaders a standing-ground.
1895. N. M. Butler, in Educat. Rev., Sept., 120. It offers us a sure standing-ground for our educational theory.
1611. B. Jonson, Catiline, V. ii. Crassvs. Let vs now take the *standing part. Caesar. We must…. Yet I would faine helpe these wretched men.
1862. F. Hall, Hindu Philos. Syst., 174. The Vedántins allege, that, from the *standing-point of the true state of existence, Brahma alone is real.
1871. L. Stephen, Playgr. Eur. (1894), iii. 81. A lovely and almost level ridge … connected it [the mountain top] with our standing-point.
1889. Jessopp, Coming of Friars, vi. 294. We start from a standing-point … in advance of that of our forefathers.
1905. W. Holman Hunt, Pre-Raphaelitism, I. xiv. 400. A track leading to it from our *standing-post.
1603. Reg. Mag. Sig. Scot., 514/2. To pay for *standand room, housmaill and uphalding of the saidis hallis and commowne merkett-place.
1812. H. & J. Smith, Rej. Addr., Theatre. No room for standing, mis-called standing-room.
1833. Loudon, Encycl. Archit., § 757. The floor of the standing-room [in a cow-house] ought to be perfectly level.
1837. Barham, Ingol. Leg., ‘Monstre’ Balloon. You’ll scarcely get standing room, much less a seat.
1843. Penny Cycl., XXVII. 181/1. (Weaving.) Other persons are renters of what is termed a ‘shop of frames,’ containing eight or ten frames, let, with standing-room, &c., to the workmen.
1856. ‘Stonehenge,’ Brit. Sports, II. VIII. i. 462/2. The cabin is obliged to be left partially open, because there is not standing-room beneath the deck.
1600. Weakest goeth to Wall, F 3. Get him a *standing stoole, And then perhaps the child will learne to goe.
1656. R. Fletcher, Martial’s Epigr., etc. 130. The elf dares peep abroad, the pretty foole Can wag without a truckling standing-stoole.
