approaching
Meaning
coming nearer in distance or time
(of a specified age) nearly reaching a particular age
Structure
Usage
the approaching storm clouds darkened the sky.
she is approaching her fortieth birthday.
we could hear the sound of approaching footsteps.
Etymology
the word 'approaching' is built upon the verb 'approach', which entered middle english from the old french 'aprochier'. this french term derived from the late latin 'appropriare', meaning "to come near to", itself a compound of the latin prefix 'ad-' (to) and 'propiare' (to come near), from the adjective 'prope' (near). the '-ing' suffix is a native english grammatical element that transforms the verb into an adjective, describing the state of drawing nearer. thus, the literal construction "moving towards nearness" perfectly captures the modern sense of something coming closer in space or time.
Analysis
- ap: from latin ad, meaning "to, towards". a prefix indicating direction or addition. - proach: from latin propiare, from prope, meaning "near". this root conveys the core sense of nearness. - ing: from old english -ende, a suffix used to form present participles and adjectives from verbs.