adjective

childing

child·ing

Able to bear childrenAble to bear children; fertile; also, pregnant, or in the process of childbirth, or having just given birth to a child.

/ˈt͡ʃaɪldɪŋ/

Meaning

3 senses

(archaic, not comparable)Able to bear children; fertile; also, pregnant, or in the process of childbirth, or having just given birth to a child.
(archaic, not comparable)Of a flowering plant: producing younger florets around an older flower.
(figuratively, not comparable, obsolete)Fruitful; productive.

Origin

From late Middle English childynge (“pregnant”), from childen (“to give birth to a child”)

From late Middle English childynge (“pregnant”), from childen (“to give birth to a child”) + -ing, -inge (suffix forming the present participles of verbs, which were often used as adjectives); equivalent to child (verb) + -ing (suffix forming adjectives with the sense ‘having a specified characteristic, nature, or quality’, and forming the present participles of verbs).

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