brewing
UK[ˈbruːɪŋ]US[ˈbruːɪŋ]
n
The process of making beer, ale, etc.
n
The process of developing or preparing something, especially something unpleasant or significant.
Morpheme Breakdown
brew
ing
brew
to prepare a drink
ing
noun suffix
Etymology
The word 'brewing' is a direct descendant of the Old English verb brēowan, which meant to prepare a drink, specifically by fermentation. This Old English term is part of the wider Germanic family, related to Dutch brouwen and German brauen, all pointing to the ancient craft of beer production. The core concept of 'brew' has expanded metaphorically from the literal process of fermenting malt and hops to encompass the figurative 'preparation' or 'gathering' of events, especially those with a sense of impending development. The addition of the '-ing' suffix nominalizes the action, turning it into a word for the process itself, whether it be of a beverage or of a situation.
Analysis
Structure: brew (to prepare a drink) + ing (noun suffix)
brew: From Old English brēowan, meaning "to brew (beer), ferment, or prepare by mixing." Its functional role is the core verb root.
ing: A suffix of Old English origin used to form nouns from verbs, indicating the action, process, or result of the verb.
Examples
The brewery is famous for its traditional methods of brewing.
There is a storm brewing on the horizon.
His strange behavior was a sign of trouble brewing.