sermoning

English

Etymology 1

From Middle English sermonynge; equivalent to sermon +‎ -ing.

Noun

sermoning (countable and uncountable, plural sermonings)

1. The act of discoursing; instruction; preaching.
   • 1674, Matthew Scrivener, A Course of Divinity, page 395:

     now have things been so reformed with a witness, or rather a vengeance, that Sermoning carries all afore it, bears all down to little or nothing.

   • 1808, Joseph Hall, Sermons, page 603:

     What need these assiduous pryaers, these frequent sermonings, these importune communicatings?

   • 1879, Anthony Trollope, John Caldigate:

     You needn't tell me, 'cause I know all about it without any sermoning.

   • 2011, John P. Galassie ·, When Dark Gods Descend, page 46:

     Or so said the bishops, whose self-righteous interolerance of any beliefs, save their own, made me doubt the sincerity in all their philanthropic sermonings to others.

Etymology 2

Verb

sermoning

1. present participle and gerund of sermon

Middle English

Alternative forms

• sarmonynge, sarmounnynge, sarmoning, sermownynge, sermonynge, sermonyng

Noun

sermoning

1. Alternative form of sermonynge
   • late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Knight's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 3090-3092:

     Than seyde he thus to Palamon ful right;
     ‘I trowe ther nedeth litel sermoning
     To make yow assente to this thing.’

     Then said he thus to Palamon the knight;
     ‘I suppose little preaching is needed here
     To make you assent to this thing.’