quickeningn.1
/ˈkwɪk(ə)nɪŋ/, /ˈkwɪkn̩ɪŋ/, U.S. /ˈkwɪk(ə)nɪŋ/ 1.
a. The action of quicken v.1 (in various senses); an instance of this.
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c1400 Bk. to Mother (Bodl.) 61 Not as prechours prechen now, biddinge men do þat þei wollen not do hemself; þerfore here dede sedis growen not aftur hem for defaute of quikeninge wiþ þat goode liuinge.
a1425 J. Wyclif Sel. Eng. Wks. (1871) II. 99 (MED) Þis þridde deed bodi þat Crist quykenede bitokeneþ his quykenyng to grace.
1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection i. sig. Diiiv For the..quyckenyng of their reason.
1577 H. I. tr. H. Bullinger 50 Godlie Serm. I. i. vi. sig.C.vij/2 Justification of life therefore is..a quickning [1584 quickening] or translating from death to life.
1587 Sir P. Sidney & A. Golding tr. P. de Mornay Trewnesse Christian Relig. xiv. 227 The quickning..vttering it selfe in the nourishing and increasing of him.
1650 H. Vaughan Silex Scintillans 81 Nothing that is, or lives, But hath his Quicknings, and reprieves.
1706 G. Stanhope Paraphr. Epist. & Gospels III. 259 The Mortification of some old, and quickening of some contrary Principle.
1743 J. Brine Certain Efficacy Death of Christ iii. 166 Heavenly Life, created in their Hearts is extinguished, and they after divine Quickenings become dead in Sin.
1822 J. M. Good Study Med. III. 381 It is difficult, if not impossible, to account..for the quickening of the lurking seminium of the poison at this time.
1853 J. Ruskin Stones of Venice II. vi. 192 That quickening and suppling of the dull spirit.
1874 J. R. Green Short Hist. Eng. People vii. §7. 419 The intellectual quickening of the age had now reached the mass of the people.
1988 L. Gordon Eliot's New Life ii. 78 The scenes that Eliot visited with Emily Hale..are seen with an ecstatic quickening of lyrical emotion.
2005 P. D. James Lighthouse ii. ii. 95 Dalgliesh reflected that it was impossible to view an offshore island from the air without a quickening of the spirit.
b. spec. The first perceptible movements of the fetus during pregnancy; the stage of pregnancy at which this occurs.
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the world > life > biology > biological processes > procreation or reproduction > pregnancy or gestation > [noun] > first movements of
quickening1472
1472 J. Paston in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) I. 574 My lady of Norffolk is wyth chyld..in so myche she waytys the qwyknyng wyth-in thes vj wekys at the ferthest.
1699 R. Barret Compan. for Midwives iii. 57 The time of quickening being tripled, makes up the Day of the Birth.
1748 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 45 132 After Quickening her Health became better.
1829 J. Morley (title) An essay on the symptoms of pregnancy, from the earliest stage to the period of quickening.
1891 Lancet 18 July 128/1 As to treatment, before rupture the large tube should be extirpated, but after quickening he should follow Mr. Tait's advice and wait until the child was viable.
1922 C. A. Hoff Ethical Sex Relations i. 149 The first unequivocal sign observed by the mother is that known as the quickening, which occurs usually about the fourth month.
2005 S. D. Levitt & S. J. Dubner Freakonomics iv. 137 In the early days of the nation, it was permissible to have an abortion prior to ‘quickening’—that is, when the first movements of the fetus could be felt, usually around the sixteenth to eighteenth week of pregnancy.
2. concrete. That which quickens; (hence) yeast, or a quantity of yeast. Chiefly Scottish and English regional (northern). Now rare.
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the world > food and drink > food > substances for food preparation > [noun] > leaven or yeast
barmc1000
yeastc1000
sourdough1303
leaven1340
fermentc1420
God's good1469
quickening1573
rising1594
sizzing1594
leavening1626
kneading1638
emptying1650
yeast-cake1795
hametz1891
1573 R. Lever Arte of Reason i. i. 3 Lykemeanyng wordes are one in meaning, and diuers in sound as rich, welthie; colour, hue; quickning, barme, yest.
1622 in G. I. Murray Rec. Falkirk Parish (1887) I. 32 The said Cristiane Watsoune cam in..inquyring for quickening to borrow.
1707 Household Bk. Lady G. Baillie (S.H.S.) 70 Sand and oyl 2s. 6d., ale 2s., quicknin 1s.
1790 A. Wheeler Westmorland Dial. iii. 87 Me Mudder lent her a Whicknin an we wor bawn at brew.
1825 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. Suppl. at Quickening Ale or beer in a state of fermentation, thrown into ale, porter, etc. that has become dead or stale.
1828 W. Carr Dial. Craven (ed. 2) Whickening, Yeast, or the quantity of yeast sufficient for one brewing.
1855 Times 20 Nov. 8/5 Let the liquor stand till new-milk-warm, then add the quickening.
a1903 B. Kirkby in Eng. Dial. Dict. (1903) IV. 681/1 Can ye let me hev a whickenin o' yast, Ah want ta beeak some broon breed.
1923 G. Watson Roxburghshire Word-bk. 244 Quickenin', yeast.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2007; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
† quickeningn.2
Obsolete.
= quicking n.3
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society > occupation and work > industry > working with specific materials > working with metal > [noun] > coating with metal > with specific metals
leadingc1440
tinningc1440
foilinga1582
quickening1738
electroplating1840
zincing1841
retinning1843
palladiumizinga1851
acierage1852
platinizing1853
nickelization1857
quicking1863
brassingc1865
copperingc1865
nickel plating1870
nickelling1875
steel-facing1884
brazing1886
aluminizing1890
sherardizing1901
calorizing1930
aluminization1932
stelliting1934
anodizing1936
anodization1952
flame-plating1954
1738 G. Smith tr. Laboratory i. 15 A Quickening Water. Take one Ounce of Quicksilver, one Ounce of Aqua Fortis [etc.].
1799 tr. Laboratory (ed. 6) I. Pref. p. vi Quickening is a singular expression to be employed in gilding.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2007; most recently modified version published online June 2018).
† quickeningn.3
Obsolete. rare.
In plural. The underground rhizomes of couch grass ( Elymus repens) and other grasses. Also (in full quickening grass): couch grass itself. Cf. quicken n.2
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the world > plants > particular plants > plants perceived as weeds or harmful plants > weed > grasses perceived as weeds > [noun] > couch-grass
quitcheOE
quicka1400
quicken?c1425
couch-grass1578
twitch1588
twitch grass1588
dog grass1597
sea dog's grass1597
quick grass1617
couch1637
wheat-grass1668
scutch1686
quickenings1762
quicken grass1771
spear-grass1784
squitch1785
witchgrass1790
felt1794
dog-wheat1796
creeping wheat1819
quack1822
switch-grass1840
couch-wheat1884
the world > plants > particular plants > plants perceived as weeds or harmful plants > weed > grasses perceived as weeds > [noun] > couch-grass > stems of
quicka1400
quicken?c1425
quick grass1617
quickenings1762
quicken grass1771
1762 A. Dickson Treat. Agric. i. xiii. 99 Of the first sort is the quickening-grass, or couch-grass.
1765 Museum Rusticum 4 454 Stones, quickenings, and every other thing that may hinder the growth of the flax, should be removed.
1778 Northern Farmer II. xxxvii. 298 Clover..greatly encourages the propagation of the quickening grass.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2007; most recently modified version published online September 2018).
quickeningadj.
/ˈkwɪk(ə)nɪŋ/, /ˈkwɪkn̩ɪŋ/, U.S. /ˈkwɪk(ə)nɪŋ/ 1. That animates or gives life (literally and figuratively); (also) that comes to life.
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the world > life > source or principle of life > giving of life > [adjective] > brought to life
quickened1589
enlivened1640
quickening1870
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) 1 Cor. xv. 45 The firste man, Adam, is maad in to a soule lyuynge [L. viventem], the laste Adam in to a spirit quykenynge [L. vivificantem].
a1533 J. Frith in Test. W. Tracie (1535) sig. Cv Fayth is..the quyckenynge power owt of which all good frutes sprynge.
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. v. sig. E Quickning faith..The creeping deadly cold away did shake.
1637 N. Whiting Le Hore di Recreatione 36 Such quickning heat..That thawd his voyce, and did unfreeze his tongue.
1674 J. Bryan Harvest-home Postscr. 53 I finisht have The first part of this quickning Text.
1707 I. Watts Hymns & Spiritual Songs ii. 109 Heavenly Dove, With all thy quickening Powers.
1767 G. A. Stevens French Flogged iii. 6 The quickening sun, that like a jewel shines set in mid heaven.
1823 J. Foster Ess. Series Lett. (ed. 7) iv. ii. 284 He was exulting in the conscious enlargement of intellect, and the quickening and vivid perceptiveness of taste.
1870 H. Macmillan Bible Teachings Pref. 15 Bursting buds and quickening roots.
1904 Longman's Mag. Jan. 254 Even my mishandling cannot rob the earth of its quickening power.
1977 N. Shepherd Living Mountain vii. 45 The disintegrating rock, the nurturing rain, the quickening sun, the seed, the root, the bird—all are one.
1999 Arlington (Texas) Morning News (Nexis) 11 Sept. 1 a Her slow pace didn't dampen her quickening spirits.
2. That makes or becomes quicker; that speeds (a thing) up; (also) accelerating, increasing in rate or frequency.
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1701 F. Atterbury Additions to 1st Ed. Rights Eng. Convocation 129 It was only a Quickning Message, which suppos'd 'em to be upon the Debate already, but to proceed..slowly in it.
1795 Academical Contribs. Poetry 42 Let my quickening pace Seek yonder promontory's base.
1814 H. Busk Fugitive Pieces 229 The flaggy sail Chides the dull absence of the quickening gale.
1850 W. Wordsworth Prelude iv. 85 When quickening steps Followed each other.
1944 J. B. Speer Fancyclopaedia 33/2 Subscription fanzines blossomed thereafter at a quickening rate.
1954 Househ. Guide & Almanac (News of World) 13/1 The 10th will see a quickening pace in matters which have been dragging.
2001 M. Blake 24 Karat Schmooze ii. 17 Not for him the..quickening pulse of those longing for a loved one.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2007; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1c1400
n.21738n.31762adj.c1384