kissing

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈkɪsɪŋ/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Etymology 1

From Middle English cussinde, from Old English cyssende, from Proto-Germanic *kussijandz, equivalent to kiss +‎ -ing. Cognate with Saterland Frisian küsjend, Dutch kussend, German Low German küssend, German küssend, Swedish kyssande, Icelandic kyssandi.

Verb

kissing

1. present participle of kiss

Adjective

kissing (not comparable)

1. Just touching.

Etymology 2

From Middle English kissinge, kyssynge, kessinge, from Old English *cyssing (compare Old English cossettung (“kissing”)), equivalent to kiss +‎ -ing.

Noun

kissing (countable and uncountable, plural kissings)

1. The act of giving a kiss.
   • 1844, Catharine Maria Sedgwick, Tales and Sketches

     There began to be some movement preparatory to the resumption of our journey, and, after many huggings and kissings, the family parted, and the wagon drove off […]

Derived terms

• kissing cousin
• kissing gate
• kissing gourami