▪ I. seducing, vbl. n.
(sɪˈdjuːsɪŋ)
[f. seduce v. + -ing1.]
The action of the verb.
| 1561 J. Daus tr. Bullinger on Apoc. (1573) 8 They flye the seducyng of Antichrist, and abyde in the fayth of Christ. 1651 Hobbes Leviath. ii. xxii. 122 This is a..Conspiracy unlawfull, as being a fraudulent seducing of the Assembly. 1721 Strype Eccl. Mem. I. i. xxvii. 192 They made him [the Pope] a kind of God; to the seducing of the Subject, and bringing the People into Error. |
▪ II. seducing, ppl. a.
(sɪˈdjuːsɪŋ)
[f. seduce v. + -ing2.]
That seduces.
1. Tempting to evil.
| 1575 H. N[iclas] First Exhort. xvi. §14 Therfore cannot the man..occupie or use any maner of Freedoms that are falser, wickeder, absurder, seducinger, arroganter nor horribler against God..then this, &c. 1608 Convers. Noble Lady of Fraunce Ded., To those misled Ladies..of England, whome Seducing Seminaries..haue too much preuailed withall. 1611 Bible 1 Tim. iv. 1 Giuing heed to seducing spirits [Gr. πνεύµασι πλάνοις]. 1638 E. Norice New Gospel 1 Such a seducing Impostor and cunning Deceiver. 1642 Milton Apol. Smect. Wks. 1851 III. 257 They may..be mov'd with detestation of their seducing malice. 1701 G. Stanhope Augustine's Medit. ii. iv. 122 Impudently prostituting thyself to the lust of seducing strangers. 1831 Scott Ct. Rob. xxvii, Regarding the imperfect recollection he had..as the mere suggestion of a deluded imagination, if not actually presented by some seducing spirit. |
b. (See quot.)
| 1780 Bentham Princ. Legisl. xi. §29 When the act which a motive prompts a man to engage in is of a mischievous nature it may for distinction's sake be termed a seducing or corrupting motive. |
2. Alluring, attractive, ‘bewitching’. Cf. F. séduisant. Now rare.
| 1748 Chesterfield Lett. II. 239 Take great care that the first impressions you give of yourself may be not only favourable, but pleasing, engaging, nay—seducing. 1794 Sullivan View Nat. I. 9, I shall leave to a future opportunity the consideration of this seducing but erroneous principle. 1818 Scott Rob Roy ix, Well, it is very seducing to be pitied, after all. |