liking

• IPA^(key): /ˈlaɪkɪŋ/

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• Rhymes: -aɪkɪŋ

From Middle English likinge, likinde, likende, likande, licande, from Old English līciende, līciġende, from Proto-Germanic *līkāndz, present participle of Proto-Germanic *līkāną, equivalent to like +‎ -ing.

liking

1. present participle and gerund of like

From Middle English likinge, from Old English līcung (“pleasing; pleasure; gratification; liking”), equivalent to like +‎ -ing.

liking (countable and uncountable, plural likings)

1. A like; a predilection.
   • 1859, John Stuart Mill, “Introductory”, in On Liberty, London: John W[illiam] Parker and Son, […], →OCLC, page 17:

     The likings and dislikings of society, or of some powerful portion of it, are thus the main thing which has practically determined the rules laid down for general observance, under the penalties of law or opinion.

   • 2012 September 15, Amy Lawrence, “Arsenal's Gervinho enjoys the joy of six against lowly Southampton”, in the Guardian‎:

     The Ivorian is a player with such a liking for improvisation it does not usually look like he has any more idea than anyone else what he is going to do next, so it was an interesting choice.

2. (archaic) Approval.

   goods bought on liking

• See Thesaurus:predilection

• for one's liking
• good liking
• to someone's liking
• take a liking to

likíng

1. side