▪ I. separating, vbl. n.
(ˈsɛpəreɪtɪŋ)
[f. separate v. + -ing1.]
The action of separate v.
| c 1550 Cheke Matt. xxi. 44 note, This separating of chaf and dust awai from y⊇ good corne is called in greek λικµᾶν. 1623 Cockeram ii, A Seperating of man and wife. Diuorce. 1644 Milton Divorce i. x. (ed. 2) 26 By the separating of unmeet consorts. 1831 Scott Ct. Rob. xxii, If so, his meeting with his plighted bride, after so many years' absence, was but a delusive preface to their separating for ever. |
| attrib. 1641 French Distill. i. (1651) 34 Let the Oil that is drawn with the Water be separated with a..seperating Glass. 1855 D. K. Clark Railway Mach. 153/2 Edwards' separating pipes..for disengaging the steam from the priming. |
▪ II. separating, ppl. a.
(ˈsɛpəreɪtɪŋ)
[f. separate v. + -ing2.]
That separates, in various senses of the verb. † separating line = separatrix.
| 1694 Halley Oughtred's Key Math. 3 Decimal Parts are written in the same line with Integers; but are distinguished by a rectangular line; which is therefore called the Separating Line. 1850 Miss Warner Wide Wide World xxxvi, She clasped Alice, as if she feared even then the separating hand. 1908 [Miss Fowler] Betw. Trent & Ancholme 23 The low separating wall. |
† b. = separatist a. (Cf. dissenting.) Obs.
| 1734 Watts Reliq. Juv. (1789) 127 He attends the best of preachers in their separating meetings. |