kissing

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈkɪs.ɪŋ/

• Audio (US)

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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. That kisses.
2. Just touching.

Derived terms

• kissing booth
• kissing bug
• kissing-bunch
• kissing cousin
• kissing-crust
• kissing disease
• kissing gate
• kissing gourami
• kissing kin

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 […]