▪ I. changing, vbl. n.1
(ˈtʃeɪndʒɪŋ)
[f. change v. + -ing1.]
The action of the verb change.
1. a. The action of substituting one thing for another, or of giving and receiving reciprocally; exchange.
| 1340 Hampole Pr. Consc. 1532 Many men se ofte chaungyng Of sere maners of gys of clethyng. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 71 Chawngynge or yeuynge oone thinge for anothere, cambium. 1513–75 Diurn. Occurr. (1833) 18 For confirmatioun of peace and changeing of seillis. 1548 Udall, etc. Erasm. Paraph. 76 b, A choppyng and chaungeyng of benefites one for an other. 1588 Shakes. L.L.L. v. ii. 137 Change your Fauours too..But in this changing, What is your intent? 1611 Bible Pref. 9 Neither was there this chopping and changing in the more ancient times onely. |
† b. concr. A thing given in exchange. Obs. rare.
| 138. Wyclif Serm. lx. Wks. I. 184 What chaunginge shal a man ȝyve for his soule. |
2. a. The action of making a thing other than it was; alteration.
| a 1225 Anc. R. 6 Þeos riwle..is euer on, & schal beon, wiðute monglunge & wiðute chaungunge. 138. Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 182 For chawngynge of Cristis ordynaunce. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 271 Notable alteracyon or chaungynge of the partes. 1714 Mandeville Fab. Bees (1725) I. 133 So many various shiftings and changings of modes. 1866 Sharpe New Test. Pref., The Translator..has made no change for changing's sake. |
† b. Mus. Variation; modulation; = change n. 4 c. Obs.
| 1633 Fletcher Pisc. Ecl. vii. xix, Change when you sing, muses delight in changing. 1669 Penn No Cross xix. §31 The Musick was simple, without Art of Changings. |
3. a. The action of becoming other than it was; change, alteration, variation.
| c 1330 Kyng of Tars 871 in Ritson Metr. Rom. II. 192 Bi chaungynge of his hewe. 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. xii. x, Þe rauen haþ foure and sixty chaungynges of voyse. 1414 Brampton Penit. Ps. ci. 38 There is no changyng foundyn in the. 1535 Coverdale Isa. iii. 9 The chaunginge of their countenaunce bewrayeth them. 1659 C. Noble Moderate Answ. Immod. Queries 6 A person given to vacillations and changings. |
† b. Of the moon; = change n. 5. Obs.
| 1486 Bk. St. Albans C vj, Take hony at the chaungyng of the moon. 1611 Bible Ecclus. xliii. 8 The moneth is called after her name, encreasing wonderfully in her changing. |
4. attrib. in various senses; see the vb. changing note (see quot. 1876); changing room, a room where one can change one's clothes, esp. at a sports ground.
| 1876 Stainer & Barrett Dict. Mus. Terms, Changing notes, passing notes or discords which occur on the accented parts of a bar. 1878 Grove Dict. Mus. I. 75 The appoggiatura..in the latter case..is..sometimes called ‘transient’ or ‘changing’ note. 1883 J. Parker Tyne Ch. 200 The grave is not a goal, it is but a changing-place. 1884 Health Exhib. Catal. 130/1 Plan..of Dry or Changing House where miners change their clothes. 1917 Changing-room [see airing cupboard]. 1937 Discovery Jan. p. ii/1 New buildings just completed. Swimming bath, changing room, school library. 1960 J. Betjeman Summoned by Bells vii. 65 In steam like this the changing-room was bathed. |
▪ II. ˈchanging, ppl. a.
[f. as prec. + -ing2.]
1. That changes (intr.); undergoing alteration; varying, inconstant; that changes colour.
| c 1325 E.E. Allit. P. B. 1588 Suche a chaungande chaunce. 1340 Ayenb. 104 Alle oþre þinges byeþ chonginde. 1583 Babington Commandm. v. (1637) 42 So times are changed to and fro, and chaunging times have chaunged us too. 1633 P. Fletcher Purple Isl. i. xxxvii, Every changing scene. 1660 Boyle Seraph. Love §xxv. (1700) 152 The changing necks of Doves. 1880 M. Collins Th. in Garden I. 216 The sea..always changing, yet unchangeable. Mod. A changing-coloured silk. |
2. That changes (trans.); causing alteration.
| 1707 Hearne Collect. 27 Sept. II. 53 Time changing, sneaking People. 1809 Campbell Gertrude ii. xxi, The changing hand of time. |
▪ III. changing, vbl. n.2
see chang v.