coasting
UK[ˈkəʊstɪŋ]US[ˈkoʊstɪŋ]
n
the act of moving easily, especially without using power or effort.
n
the act of progressing or succeeding without expending much effort.
verb (present participle)
moving easily without using power or effort; progressing without expending much effort.
Morpheme Breakdown
coast
ing
coast
shore
ing
verbal noun suffix
Etymology
the word 'coasting' originates from the latin noun 'costa', signifying a 'rib' or 'side'. this evolved through old french 'coste' to denote the side or border of a landmass, hence the 'shore'. the verb 'to coast' emerged from the nautical idea of sailing along a coastline, which requires minimal effort when the wind is favorable. by semantic extension, the modern sense of 'coasting' abstractly captures the concept of moving or progressing easily along a path with little active exertion, much like a vessel gliding near the shore.
Analysis
Structure: coast (shore) + ing (verbal noun suffix)
coast (from latin 'costa' meaning 'rib, side, flank', via old french 'coste', functional role: root conveying the sense of a border or edge). ing (from old english '-ung', '-ing', functional role: suffix forming verbal nouns or present participles).
Examples
the car rolled down the hill, the engine off, and we enjoyed the quiet coasting.
after a strong start to the project, the team has just been coasting for the last month.
his coasting through the final semester resulted in lower grades.