▪ I. ˈmultiplying, vbl. n.
[-ing1.]
1. = multiplication, in various senses.
| c 1380 Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 37 In covetise of multipliinge of richessis. c 1384 Chaucer H. Fame ii. 293 (Fairf. MS.) Fro roundel [to] compas Eche aboute other goynge, Caused of othres sterynge And multiplyinge euer moo. c 1386 ― Pard. T. 46 He shal have multiplying of his greyn. a 1400 in Halliwell Rara Mathem. (1841) 58 Þan al þat comes of þat multiplyeng departe þou by þe noumbre of þe poyntes of þe vmbre. 1474 Caxton Chesse iii. i. (1883) 77 The multiplynge of his goodes temporell. 1549 Latimer 3rd Serm. bef. Edw. VI (Arb.) 87 marg., These mixtures and multiplyinges are theft. 1553 Acts Privy Counc. (N.S.) IV. 254 Informacions, lettres and examinacions towching Whalley's accusacion for multiplying. 1599 Dubravius (title) A new Booke of good Husbandry... Conteining the order..of making of Fish-pondes, with the breeding, preserving, and multiplying of the Carpe [etc.]. 1625 Bacon Ess., Seditions & Troubles (Arb.) 405 The Multiplying of Nobilitie, and other Degrees of Qualitie. 1652 J. Chetwind in Harington Briefe View Ep. Ded., This Authour..hath avoyded the needlesse multiplying of words. 1659 Milton Civ. Power in Eccl. Causes Wks. 1851 V. 332 The multiplying and the aggravating of sin to them both. 1707 Curios. in Husb. & Gard. 129 These four last Observations for the multiplying of Corn. 1800 Lamb Let. to Coleridge 6 Aug., I cram all I can in, to save a multiplying of letters. 1855 Bain Senses & Int. ii. ii. §12 (1864) 201 The multiplying of points of contact, by our having a plurality of fingers. |
¶ b. Alleged term for a ‘company’ of husbands.
| 1486 Bk. St. Albans f vij, A Multiplieng of husbondis. |
2. attrib.: multiplying way (? nonce-use), = ‘family way’ (see family 10 b).
| 1599 T. M[oufet] Silkwormes 47 What made thee shew thy multiplying pride, More in these egges, then all the egges beside? 1739 Mrs. Delany in Life & Corr. (1861) II. 53 Duchess is very well, though in a multiplying way. |
▪ II. ˈmultiplying, ppl. a.
[-ing2.]
That multiplies. † multiplying of: tending to multiply.
| a 1425 Cursor M. 2348 (Trin.) More..þen þe graueles in þe see So multepliynge [earlier texts untelland] shulde þei be. 1601 Shakes. All's Well v. iii. 102 Platus himselfe, That knowes the tinct and multiplying med'cine. 1611 Bible Wisd. iv. 3 The multiplying brood of the vngodly shall not thriue. 1646 H. Lawrence Comm. Angells 64 Such punishments..are multiplying of evill infinitely, if God prevent not. 1690 Child Disc. Trade (1698) 23 Interest..which is of so prodigious a multiplying nature, that it must of necessity make the lenders monstrous rich. 1709 J. Ward Yng. Math. Guide i. vi. (1734) 72 The Multiplying Fraction is less than an Unite or 1. 1855 Bp. Wilberforce in R. I. Wilberforce Life (1881) II. vii. 287 Oh! our multiplying embarrassments from concessions and inconsistencies. 1877 Besant & Rice Harp & Cr. viii. 60 What time the placens uxor expects her husband to return with wavering step and multiplying eye. |
b. in the names of instruments and machines having devices for increasing the number of movements, images, etc. Also multiplying-machine, a machine for performing mechanically the arithmetical process of multiplication. (See Knight Dict. Mech. and Suppl.)
| 1823 Ann. Philos. June 437 The multiplying wire [in Schweigger's Multiplier] is of plated copper. 1839 T. C. Hofland Brit. Angler's Man. i. (1841) 6 The multiplying reel was formerly much used, but, from its liability to be out of order [etc.]. 1849 Noad Electricity (ed. 3) 396 Rapid horizontal motion is then given to the coil by means of a multiplying wheel. 1856 ‘Stonehenge’ Brit. Rural Sports i. §621. 234/2 Multiplying-reels, in which, by the introduction of machinery, the barrel is made to travel several times to the single revolution of the handle. 1876 Tait Rec. Adv. Phys. Sci. iv, An arrangement..consisting of a driving wheel and multiplying gear, by which I can communicate an extremely great velocity of rotation to this copper disc. 1882 Nares Seamanship (ed. 6) 53 Multiplying sheaves.—Are sometimes fitted to blocks where much friction takes place. 1889 Nature 21 Nov. 71/2 A multiplying apparatus which determines..in one function, the product of a number by each figure of the multiplier. |
Hence † ˈmultiplyingly adv., manifoldly.
| 1483 Caxton Gold. Leg. 346 b/2 They suffrid in many maners prouffitably constantly and multyplyengly. |