-ing²

Forming the present participle of verbs, and adjectives from nouns.

Middle English: variation of earlier ‑ende, later ‑inde, subsequently completely identified with ‑ing¹.

The present participle is the form of the verb used to make a continuous tense, as in he is climbing, they are walking, stop what you are doing. Any verb can form its present participle by adding ‑ing in this way. Such participles are often used as adjectives: he is a charming man, she is his golfing partner. Some adjectives of this type are formed from nouns instead: cunning, hulking, swashbuckling.