Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Being
Be′ing
,p.
pr.
Be
. Existing.
☞ Being was formerly used where we now use having. “Being to go to a ball in a few days.”
Miss Edgeworth.
☞ In modern usage, is, are, was or were being, with a past participle following (as built, made, etc.) indicates the process toward the completed result expressed by the participle. The form is or was building, in this passive signification, is idiomatic, and, if free from ambiguity, is commonly preferable to the modern is or was being built. The last form of speech is, however, sufficiently authorized by approved writers. The older expression was is, or was, a-building or in building.
A man who
is being
strangled. Lamb.
While the article on Burns
was being
written. Froude.
Fresh experience
is
always being
gained. Jowett (Thucyd. )
Be′ing
,Noun.
1.
Existence, as opposed to nonexistence; state or sphere of existence.
In Him we live, and move, and have our
being
. Acts xvii. 28.
2.
That which exists in any form, whether it be material or spiritual, actual or ideal; living existence, as distinguished from a thing without life;
as, a human
. being
; spiritual beings
What a sweet
being
is an honest mind ! Beau. & Fl.
A
Being
of infinite benevolence and power. Wordsworth.
3.
Lifetime; mortal existence.
[Obs.]
Claudius, thou
Wast follower of his fortunes in his
Wast follower of his fortunes in his
being
. Webster (1654).
4.
An abode; a cottage.
[Prov. Eng.]
Wright.
It was a relief to dismiss them [Sir Roger’s servants] into little
beings
within my manor. Steele.
Be′ing
,adv.
Since; inasmuch as.
[Obs. or Colloq.]
And
Declined his means, you have increased his malice.
being
you haveDeclined his means, you have increased his malice.
Beau. & Fl.
Webster 1828 Edition
Being
BE'ING
,ppr.
Man, being in honor, abideth not. Ps.49.
BE'ING
,Noun.
In God we live, and move, and have our being. Acts 17.
1.
A particular state or condition. [This is hardly a different sense.]2.
A person existing; applied to the human race.3.
An immaterial, intelligent existence, or spirit. Superior beings, when of late they saw.
A mortal man unfold all nature's law--
4.
An animal; any living creature. Animals are such beings, as are endowed with sensation and spontaneous motion.
Definition 2024
being
being
English
Verb
being
- present participle of be
Noun
being (plural beings)
- A living creature.
- The state or fact of existence, consciousness, or life, or something in such a state.
- Shakespeare
- Claudius, thou / Wast follower of his fortunes in his being.
- Shakespeare
- (philosophy) That which has actuality (materially or in concept).
- (philosophy) One's basic nature, or the qualities thereof; essence or personality.
- (obsolete) An abode; a cottage.
- (Can we find and add a quotation of Wright to this entry?)
- Steele
- It was a relief to dismiss them [Sir Roger's servants] into little beings within my manor.
Derived terms
Derived terms
|
|
Translations
a living creature
|
|
the state or fact of existence
|
|
Conjunction
being
- (obsolete) Given that; since.
- 1621, Robert Burton, The Anatomy of Melancholy, New York Review Books 2001, p.280:
- ’Tis a hard matter therefore to confine them, being they are so various and many […].
- 1621, Robert Burton, The Anatomy of Melancholy, New York Review Books 2001, p.280:
Derived terms
References
- “being” in The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition, Houghton Mifflin Company, 2000.
- “being” in Dictionary.com Unabridged, v1.0.1, Lexico Publishing Group, 2006.
- "being" in the Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary (Beta Version), K Dictionaries limited, 2000-2006.
- "being" in WordNet 2.0, Princeton University, 2003.