Carpentering

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. The process of building and crafting with timber to form various structures
2. The art of forming and joining wooden components to create functional or decorative items
3. The craft of shaping and assembling wood to construct or mend buildings and furniture

Etymology: "Carpentering" is simply the present participle and gerund of "carpenter" with the suffix "-ing" added, so the story lies mainly in the base word. "Carpenter" came into English from Anglo-Norman "carpenter" and Old French "charpentier," which in turn descend from Latin "carpentarius," a maker of carriages and wagons. The Latin noun was built on "carpentum," a two-wheeled vehicle, so the trade originally concerned wheeled transport as much as buildings. The "-ing" ending turns the noun into a process: the act of carpentering is the ongoing work of shaping timber into frames, joists, doors and furniture. Because the suffix attaches so readily to trade nouns, English speakers could describe the activity of any craftsman in this way, and "carpentering" is the form used when someone is in the middle of doing the work.

Synonyms: woodworking, joinery, craftsmanship, construction, building

Antonyms: destruction, demolition, dismantling