▪ I. tearing, vbl. n.1
(ˈtɛərɪŋ)
[f. tear v.1 + -ing1.]
1. The action of tear v.1, in various senses.
| 14.. Beryn 644 The warrok..held hym right a square, by þat othir syde, As holsom was at that tyme, for tereing of his hyde. 1539 Tonstall Serm. Palm Sund. (1823) 80 The tearynge of goddis name, and particular mention of all the woundes and peynes that Christe suffered for vs. 1768 Tucker Lt. Nat. (1834) I. 640 Tearings of ravenous beasts, stings of venomous serpents. 1904 Benson Challoners ix, It..cut like a blunt knife with sawing and tearing. |
2. The result of this action: a. A wound made by tearing. b. A fragment torn off.
| 1607 Topsell Four-f. Beasts (1658) 346 Their flesh also being eaten, doth quickly cure and heal the bitings or tearings of a ravenous Dog. 1891 E. Arnold Lt. of World iv. 193 Truth, Lord! but crumbs fall, and the dogs may eat The children's tearings! |
3. attrib. tearing-machine: see quot.
| 1877 Knight Dict. Mech., Tearing-machine, a machine for disintegrating woven fabric to make fiber for reworking. |
▪ II. ˈtearing, ppl. a.1
[f. tear v.1 + -ing2.]
That tears, in various senses of the verb.
1. Generally (chiefly in fig. applications); esp. that wounds the feelings; severely distressing, harrowing; also, causing a sensation as of rending.
| 1606 Shakes. Ant. & Cl. iv. xiv. 31 She..Then in the midd'st a tearing grone did breake The name of Anthony. 1686 Burnet Lett. (1708) 235 The tearing Anxieties, that Want brings with it. 1736 Ainsworth Lat. Dict. (1783) s.v., A tearing, or very loud, voice, vox stentora vincens. 1839 Mrs. Carlyle Lett., to Mrs. Aitken 22 Nov. (1903) I. 86 One might think one's maid's tears could do little for a tearing headache; but they do comfort a little. 1898 Allbutt's Syst. Med. V. 11 The cough [in bronchitis is described] as ‘tearing’. |
2. Of a wind or storm: So violent as to tear things up or in pieces; raging.
| 1633 T. James Voy. 29 We had a tearing storme at North. 1889 Barrie Window in Thrums 201 A tearing gale had blown the upper part of the brae clear. |
3. Moving with impetuous speed; rushing.
| 1765 Sterne Tr. Shandy VII. xix, You do get on at a tearing rate. 1876 World V. No. 106. 18 Soon afterwards the band began to play a tearing galop—the sign of the conclusion. 1887 T. A. Trollope What I remember II. iv. 66 Readers who are not in such a tearing hurry as the unhappy world is in these latter days. 1908 Westm. Gaz. 11 Aug. 10/3 To that [traffic] there has lately been added the tearing motor-'buses. |
4. a. Violent or reckless in action or behaviour; full of excitement; headstrong, passionate; ranting, roistering; boisterous, rollicking, exuberant. colloq. or slang. (Now rare.)
| 1654 Gayton Pleas. Notes iv. xxi. 271 Some tearing Tragedy full of fights and skirmishes. 1667 Pepys Diary 7 Oct., There was so much tearing company in the house, that we could not see the landlady. 1673 S. C. Art of Complaisance 65 Like the two tearing fellows which the poet had designed for the characters of gentlemen. 1790 Bystander 343 Half a dozen young tearing rascals. 1823 Scott Peveril xxxviii, So in stole this termagant, tearing gallant. 1869 J. R. Green Lett. iii. (1901) 232, I am in such tearing spirits at the prospect of freedom. |
b. Impressive, splendid, grand; ‘ripping’, ‘rattling’, ‘stunning’. colloq. or slang. (Now rare.)
| 1693 Humours Town 100 That so she may make a notable Figure, and a taring show the next Sunday in the Village-Church. 1721 Amherst Terræ Fil. No. 33 (1754) 176 Persons..who cut a taring figure in silk-gowns, and bosh it about town in lace ruffles, and flaxon tye-wigs. 1850 Cumming Hunter's Life S. Afr. (1902) 29/1 A large bright comet, having a tearing, fiery tail. 1897 Outing (U.S.) XXX. 270/2 A mighty fine woman and a tearing beauty besides. |
5. quasi-adv. Furiously. (Cf. raving mad.)
| 1692 R. L'Estrange Fables ccxlv. 213 This Bull..that ran Tearing Mad for the Pinching of a Mouse. 1867 A. Stock Evidence against & for Walter Tricker 4 Mrs Hitchins, at the Inquest, says ‘It was not ordinary barking. They [sc. the dogs] were barking like tearing mad.’ 1886 E. L. Dorsey Midshipman Bob ii. xi. 219 ‘Don't you get mad ever, eh?’.. ‘Yes, I'm sorry to say I do—tearing mad sometimes.’ 1906 [see jim]. 1942 Berrey & Van den Bark Amer. Thes. Slang §284/8 Angry..tearing, tearing angry or mad. |
▪ III. tearing, vbl. n.2 and ppl. a.2
see tear v.2