finishing
UK[ˈfɪnɪʃɪŋ]US[ˈfɪnɪʃɪŋ]
n
the final stage or last part of something, especially a process of manufacture or decoration.
adj
used to describe the final stage of a process or the final coat of paint or polish applied.
Morpheme Breakdown
finish
ing
finish
to end
ing
verbal noun/participial suffix
Etymology
the word 'finishing' is built upon the verb 'finish', which traces its lineage to the latin 'finis', meaning a boundary or limit. the core concept is of bringing something to its prescribed end or limit. the addition of the '-ing' suffix, a productive germanic element, transforms the action into a noun denoting the process or state of completion, or into an adjective describing something that accomplishes that end. thus, the literal sense of 'applying an end' evolved into the modern abstract meanings related to the final stages of work, processing, or surface treatment.
Analysis
Structure: finish (to end) + ing (verbal noun/participial suffix)
finish (from middle english 'finisshen', from old french 'finir', from latin 'finire' meaning 'to limit, end, finish', from 'finis' meaning 'end, boundary') + ing (from old english '-ende', '-ing', a suffix forming present participles and verbal nouns)
Examples
the finishing on this wooden table is exceptionally smooth.
he is in the finishing stages of writing his first novel.
the team's poor finishing in front of goal cost them the match.