What does leisuring mean?
Leisuring is an archaic adjective meaning leisurely, unhurried, or connected with taking one’s time. It is formed from the noun “leisure” and is used in much the same way as the modern adjective “leisurely”: a person can have a leisuring walk, spend the day in a leisuring manner, or enjoy a leisuring afternoon. The word conveys a sense of relaxation and freedom from urgency, although it can also imply a deliberate lack of haste. It is not common in contemporary British or American English and may be unfamiliar even to readers of older literature. Present-day speakers would normally choose “leisurely,” “relaxed,” or “unhurried” instead. Although the headword is no longer a standard part of everyday vocabulary, it preserves the older adjectival formation associated with “leisure” and gives historical writing a distinctive period flavour.
adjectiveArchaic: of, relating to, or characteristic of leisure. It occurs chiefly as an alternative to “leisurely.”
- Of, relating to, or characteristic of leisure; leisurely.
"They spent the afternoon in a leisuring manner, without troubling themselves with a fixed schedule."
"The leisuring couple strolled home by the river after lunch."
"His leisuring approach allowed him to consider the proposal without haste."
A word for taking your time has itself fallen out of everyday use: “leisuring” is now chiefly encountered in older English.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does leisuring come from?
“Leisuring” was formed in English by adding the participial ending -ing to “leisure.” The noun “leisure” comes through Middle English from Old French leisir or leisour, meaning permission or time at one’s disposal, and ultimately relates to Latin licēre, “to be permitted, to be allowed.” The modern adjective sense developed from that older noun, while the competing form “leisurely” became the standard equivalent in modern English.
How leisuring is actually used
This is an archaic or literary form rather than standard modern English. “Leisurely” is the usual modern adjective; “leisuring” may sound unusual or mistaken for a typographical error.