▪ I. perˈforming, vbl. n.
[f. perform + -ing1.]
The action of the verb perform, in various senses.
† 1. Finishing, completion, full accomplishment.
| 1388 Wyclif Dan. ix. 27 The desolacioun schal contynue til to the parformyng and ende. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 383/2 Parformynge, complecio, perfectio. 1563–7 Buchanan Reform. St. Andros Wks. (1892) 16 Thre ȝeris efter the performing of thys reformation. |
† 2. Finishing off, decoration, trimming. Obs.
| 1465 Mann. & Househ. Exp. Eng. (Roxb.) 491 Item, paid hym fore performynge of the valaunce, iij.s. iiij.d. 1467 Ibid. 411 Item, for di. a yerde of lynenge for performynge, vij.d. 1503 Privy Purse Exp. Eliz. York (1830) 89 For half a furre of shankes for the perfourmyng of the same gown vj.s. 1518 Harl. MS. 2284 lf. 14, v Mantelles of lyberdes wombes for performyng of a gowne of russet velute. |
† 3. Making, construction; composition. Obs.
| 1478 Marg. Paston in P. Lett. III. 230 Chargyng yow that it be not solde to none other use than to the performyng of yowyr fadyrs toombe. 1489 Caxton Faytes of A. iii. i. 168 To thy helpe in the perfourmynge of this present boke. |
4. a. Carrying out, execution, doing, performance.
| c 1420 Lydg. Assembly of Gods 837 Foryeuenes of Trespas,..Performyng of Penaunce. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 63 b, From the performynge of his dutyes. 1575–85 Abp. Sandys Serm. xxii, The performing of my office amongest you, I must confesse, hath ben much unlike. 1663 Gerbier Counsel c j, Men of parts endeavour the performing of their task. |
b. spec. of a play, music, etc.: in quots. attrib.; performing art, an art (such as the dance, drama, etc.) involving public performance (chiefly pl.); performing right, the right of performing a piece of music, etc.; usu pl.
| 1889 Daily News 8 Feb. 2/2 If foreign authors really possess valuable performing rights, it is only just that they should be paid the moderate fees they demand. 1897 Hipkins in Daily News 2 July 6/5 The London Philharmonic pitch is now A = 439 for 20 deg. Centigrade,..practically agreeing with the performing pitch of Vienna and also of Paris. 1899 Westm. Gaz. 10 June 6/3 The performing rights of a lyric. 1929 J. B. Priestley Good Companions iii. iii. 534 Performing rights, sheet music, gramophone records... There's bags of money in it. 1946 N.Y. Times 7 June 21/5 The High School of the Performing Arts will differ from other vocational or academic schools in several important details. 1961 V. Krepela in Webster s.v. performing adj., Project an image of the U.S. through displays, films, publications, fine arts, and the performing arts. 1967 Chujoy & Manchester Dance Encycl. 719/2 The function of Performing Arts School is not to create artists, but rather to prepare competent craftsmen. 1968 Listener 8 Aug. 177/3 When I did my first film..someone said: ‘It may not be so much money they are paying you down, but you get an income from it for performing rights.’ 1971 Times 22 Feb. (Canada Suppl.) p. vii/3 It is much more comfortable politically to subsidize the performing arts (where results can be seen and enjoyed by large numbers of voters) than to support the creative individuals. 1974 Times 9 Oct. 18/1 All that is best in our performing arts depends for its survival on money. 1976 National Observer (U.S.) 23 Oct. 15/2 You'll find some kind of alliance developing among performing-arts centers in cities like Washington, Denver, Los Angeles. 1977 Rolling Stone 7 Apr. 35/2 The performing-rights organization negotiates license fees with commercial users (nonprofit organizations, such as churches and schools, are exempt from paying for use of copyrighted material). |
▪ II. perˈforming, ppl. a.
[f. as prec. + -ing2.]
1. That performs, carries out, executes, or does something; acting, doing.
| 1707 Watts Hymn ‘Begin, my tongue’ ii, Sing the sweet promise of his grace, And the performing God. 1845 Browning Soul's Trag. ii, But have there not been found, too, performing natures, not merely promising? |
2. spec. Applied to animals trained to perform feats or tricks as a public exhibition; esp. designating a flea trained to perform tricks; also fig.
| 1854 Dickens Hard T. i. iii. 14 Signor Jupe was that afternoon to ‘elucidate the diverting accomplishments of his highly trained performing dog Merrylegs’. 1886 Pall Mall G. 3 June 4/1 Performing lions, performing dogs, and performing leopards are common enough in the show business. 1889 G. B. Shaw London Music 1888–89 (1937) 205 The only artist who never gets accustomed to his part is the performing flea who fires a cannon. 1922 E. Wallace Flying Fifty-Five vii. 45 Your last stable was a stable of performing fleas, for I swear you know nothing about horses. 1953 Wodehouse (title) Performing flea: a self-portrait in letters. 1966 M. Woodhouse Tree Frog xviii. 134 Driver came me a look as though I were a performing seal. 1973 ‘E. Peters’ City of Gold & Shadows ii. 29 The secret of success with performing fleas..is to synchronise your orders with their hops. 1978 D. Bloodworth Crosstalk xxi. 167 I'm a cop. I run a team of performing dogs—the best in the business. |