kissing
UK[ˈkɪsɪŋ]US[ˈkɪsɪŋ]
n
The act of touching or pressing with the lips as a sign of love, affection, greeting, or respect.
Morpheme Breakdown
kiss
ing
kiss
to touch with the lips
ing
gerund/participle suffix
Etymology
The word 'kissing' is built upon the Old English verb 'cyssan', meaning to touch with the lips. This Germanic root is thought to be onomatopoeic in origin, imitating the sound of a kiss. The addition of the '-ing' suffix, also from Old English, transforms the action into a noun denoting the activity or instance itself. Thus, the modern term directly and transparently describes the act derived from its imitative ancestral verb.
Analysis
Structure: kiss (to touch with the lips) + ing (gerund/participle suffix)
- kiss: From Old English 'cyssan' (to kiss), of Germanic origin.
- ing: A suffix of Old English origin, used to form verbal nouns (gerunds) and present participles.
Examples
They greeted each other with a warm kissing of cheeks.
The sound of kissing came from the next room.
He was caught kissing his reflection in the mirror.