smothering

English

Etymology

From Middle English smorþering.

Verb

smothering

1. present participle and gerund of smother

Noun

smothering (plural smotherings)

1. The act by which someone or something is smothered.
   • 1859, Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities:

     I do hope there will be no oniony and tobaccoey smotherings in the form of embracings all round, going on in the streets.

   • 2010, Harry Hill, Livin' the Dreem: A Year in My Life, page 397:

     When he came to, he begged me not to tell the hotel management, as his last two attempted smotherings had ended in failure and he was worried about losing his job.

Anagrams

• motherings