Marching

Part of speech: verb, adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈmɑɹt͡ʃɪŋ/

Definitions

1. The process of advancing in a uniform rhythm, frequently seen in military settings
2. a collective expression of unity or dissent achieved through synchronized movement
3. Moving forward on foot with regular steps often used by soldiers ; a public demonstration where people walk together to show solidarity or express a cause

Etymology: Before it meant a rhythmic walk in step with others, the root of this word was a boundary. The verb "march" came into Middle English from Middle French "marcher", meaning to walk or tread, and that French verb traces back to a Frankish word meaning to mark out or press with the foot. The link to boundaries runs through the Old French noun "marche", "boundary" or "frontier", which gave English "march" in the sense of a border territory, as in the Welsh Marches. Walking a frontier and marking it out on the ground are close cousins in meaning. The participle form "marching" simply inherits that verb, so its story is the story of "march" itself. The sense of walking in formation as a group grew out of the verb's older idea of stepping and treading with deliberate pace. The modern political sense of a collective demonstration builds on that same idea of many people moving together in step.

Synonyms: walking, treading, parading, strolling, trudging

Antonyms: standing, sitting