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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

abuilding en · ADJ

Pronunciation

  • /əˈbɪl.dɪŋ/ (US)
  • /əˈbɪl.dɪŋ/ (Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

From a- (“in, on”) + building (“the act or process of building”).

Meanings

  1. (archaic, not-comparable, qualifier:excluding US) Being built or under construction, as a structure or a vessel.
    • Heere we made a double floore in the hall where the shippe was abuilding, so that the wild men, being ignorant of our way of building, could not take any notice of our cuningnesse, which proved to our desire. c. 1658, Pierre-Esprit Radisson, Voyages of Peter Esprit Radisson:
    • It [the monastery of St. Lawrence in Escorial] cost eight millions; it was twenty-four years abuilding, and the founder himself saw it furnished and enjoyed it twelve years after, […] 1913, William Dean Howells, Familiar Spanish Travels:
  2. (archaic, not-comparable, qualifier:excluding US) Developing or arising, as a trend or an idea.
    • This may signify much; among other things that the courtesan is creeping into social favor—even that a new code of morals is now abuilding, in which she will be the grand exemplar. a. 1898, William Cowper Brann, Woman's Wickedness: