▪ I. gnawing, vbl. n.
(ˈnɔːɪŋ)
[f. as prec. + -ing1.]
1. The action of the verb gnaw, in various senses.
| 1340 Hampole Pr. Consc. 6873 Þe tend payne es gnawyng with-in Of conscience þat bites als vermyn. 1388 Wyclif Isa. xiii. 8 Gnawyngis and sorewis schulen holde Babiloyns. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 200/2 Gnawynge, or fowle bytynge, corrosio. 1580 Hollyband Treas. Fr. Tong, Corrosion, a gnawing, biting, or consumyng as rust, plaisters and poyson. 1622 Malynes Anc. Law-Merch. 336 For this is a biting, nay a verie gnawing to the bones of your Christian brother. 1768–74 Tucker Lt. Nat. (1852) I. 641 The scorchings of unextinguishable flames and gnawings of the never dying worm. 1801 Southey Thalaba ix. xxxviii, At dawn the Worm Will wake, and this poor flesh must grow to meet The gnawing of his hundred poison-mouths! 1894 Hall Caine Manxman iii. xix. 190 He..calmed the gnawings of his love with dreams of ambition. |
2. A persistent fretting pain (in the bowels); now only of such pain caused by want of food; pl. pangs (of hunger).
| 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. iv. x. (1495) 94 Yf the waye is stoppyd that is bytwene the galle and the bowelles, thereof fallyth gnawynge and passio colica. c 1450 ME. Med. Bk. (Heinrich) 184 Hyt destryeþ gnawyng & wynd in mannes body. 1578 Lyte Dodoens ii. xciv. 275 It is singular against the griping torment and knawings or frettings of the belly. 1605 Timme Quersit. i. xv. 77 From them [salts] doe arise inward gnawings, impostums,..the hemoroides, and such like. 1850 Prescott Peru II. 319 To appease the gnawings of hunger, they were fain to eat the leather of their saddles and belts. 1876 Besant & Rice Gold. Butterfly Prol. i, This pilgrim has tightened his belt to stave off the gnawing at his stomach. |
▪ II. gnawing, ppl. a.
(ˈnɔːɪŋ)
[f. as prec. + -ing2.]
That gnaws, in senses of the verb.
| 1567 Drant Horace's Epist. i. xviii. F iv, Greedie thrist, and knawinge pyne of siluer and of goulde. 1583 Stubbes Anat. Abus. ii. 52 Monie wanting, they applie bitter potions, nipping medicines, gnawing corrosiues. 1588 Shakes. Tit. A. v. ii. 31, I am Reuenge, sent..To ease the gnawing Vulture of the mind. 1797 Godwin Enquirer ii. ii. 170 It fixes on him an ever gnawing anxiety. 1822–34 Good's Study Med. (ed. 4) I. 57 The incisor teeth of the gnawing animals. 1842 H. E. Manning Serm. (1848) I. 44 Memory, like a gnawing stream, gathers its tinge from the soil through which it winds its sullen way. |
Hence ˈgnawingly adv.
| 1841 Hor. Smith Moneyed Man III. x. 278 A feeling of indignation still lurked gnawingly at my heart. |