Winging

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /ˈwɪŋɪŋ/

Definitions

1. Flying or moving through the air by means of wings ; carrying out an action spontaneously without prior preparation
2. Traveling or gliding with wings or wing-like movements ; performing a task impulsively or on the spur of the moment
3. Using wings to move or achieve flight ; improvising or handling a situation without advance planning

Etymology: Old English had its own word for wing, "fether," and "feather" originally meant the wing itself before narrowing to the plumage covering it. The word we now use came from Old Norse "vængr," brought into English by Scandinavian speakers, which gradually displaced the older term. The verb "to wing," meaning to move through the air on wings, is formed directly from that noun. "Winging" is simply its present participle, with the "-ing" ending added to show the action in progress.

Synonyms: flying, soaring, gliding

Antonyms: falling, descending