two-timing
Meaning
Describing a person who is deceitfully unfaithful to a romantic partner by having a simultaneous relationship with someone else.
The act or practice of being unfaithful in this way.
Structure
Usage
She ended the relationship after discovering he was two-timing her with a coworker.
His reputation as a two-timing charmer eventually caught up with him.
The plot of the movie revolves around the comedic chaos caused by a character's two-timing.
Etymology
The term "two-timing" is a vivid 20th-century American colloquialism that paints a picture of duplicity through the metaphor of scheduling. It literally constructs the concept of "deceitful romantic unfaithfulness" from the simple idea of allocating one's "time" between "two" different partners, implying a calculated, secretive juggling act. The "-ing" suffix turns this verbal action into a descriptor for the person or the act itself. This compound word efficiently captures the core logic of infidelity—not merely a single act of betrayal, but the ongoing maintenance of a double life.
Analysis
- two: From Old English twā, meaning the number 2. In this compound, it signifies duality or double-dealing. - time: From Old English tīma, meaning a period or occasion. Here, it functions as a verb stem meaning "to schedule or do at a particular time." - ing: A suffix from Old English -ende, -unge, forming present participles (adjectives) or verbal nouns.