kissing

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈkɪs.ɪŋ/

• Audio (US):

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Etymology 1

From Middle English kissynge, cussinde, from Old English cyssende, from Proto-West Germanic *kussijandī, 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 and gerund of kiss

Adjective

kissing (not comparable)

1. That kisses; engaged in a kiss or kissing.
2. Just touching.

Etymology 2

From Middle English kissynge, kyssynge, kessinge, from Old English *cyssing, from Proto-West Germanic *kussīngu, equivalent to kiss ‎ -ing. Cognate with Middle Dutch cussinge (whence Dutch kussing (“kissing”)), Middle Low German küssinge (“kissing”), Middle High German küssunge (“kissing”). Compare also Old English cossettung (“kissing”).

Noun

kissing (countable and uncountable, plural kissings)

1. The act of giving a kiss or making out.
   • 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 […]

Translations

act of kissing

• Afrikaans: soenery

Derived terms

• ass kissing
• ass-kissing
• baby kissing
• kissing ball
• kissing booth
• kissing bug
• kissing-bunch
• kissing comfit
• kissing cousin
• kissing-crust
• kissing dance
• kissing disease
• kissing gate
• kissing goes by favor
• kissing gourami
• kissing kin
• kissing number
• kissing string

 

Middle English

Noun

kissing

1. Alternative form of kissynge