1644 K. Digby Two Treat. i. xxiv. 217 The beane swelling, can it choose but breake the skinne? The skinne broken can it choose (by reason of the heate that is in it) but push out more matter, and do that action which we may call germinating?

1729 Philos. Trans. 1727–8 (Royal Soc.) 35 487 I placed the two Coco-Nuts therein, laying them Side-ways, to prevent the Moisture..from entring the Hole at the Base of the Fruit, and thereby rot the seminal Plant upon its first germinating.

1776 Ld. Kames Gentleman Farmer i. x. 203 Walnuts, almonds, and other shell-fruit, being long in germinating, ought to be put in moist sand, in order that the radicle may push before the end of April.

1825 Visit to Dalgarnoch v. 108 Who shall account for the first germinating of avarice in the human heart?

1839 C. Darwin in R. Fitzroy & C. Darwin Narr. Surv. Voy. H.M.S. Adventure & Beagle III. xxii. 542 The hardy seeds,..retain their germinating power.

1892 Louisiana Planter & Sugar Manufacturer 3 Dec. 409/3 The beets are generally lodged in the silos in a wet and dirty condition—a circumstance which means a rottening and a germinating of the roots.

1914 M. de Oliveira Lima Evol. of Brazil v. 100 The social development of this period,..found, therefore, a field already prepared for the germinating of ideas of liberty of thought.

1967 G. van Groningen First Cent. Gnosticism i. 15 Which ingredients thus became the germinating forces for Gnosticism?

1988 J. A. R. Lockhart & A. J. L. Wiseman Introd. Crop Husb. (ed. 6) vi. 203/2 Some weeds such as chickweed and annual meadow-grass will germinate throughout the year, but most have main germinating periods, e.g. knotgrass (spring).

2006 Micropaleontology 58 261/2 The germinating of resting spores is triggered by increased light levels and a rich nutrient supply.

1657 G. G. D'Ouvilly False Favourit Disgrac'd i. 13 Whose willfull Father Despis'd my humble suites, and with denyall (Cold as a Northern congelation) Nip'd my then germinating hopes.

1673 M. Lister Let. 25 Oct. in H. Oldenburg Corr. (1975) X. 305 Dr Grew could not well imagine, yt I intruded ye solid substance as such fit nourishment to ye germinating plant.

1751 N. Cotton Visions in Verse viii. 40 Infant roses, ere they blow, In germinating clusters grow.

1783 R. Watson Chem. Ess. (ed. 2) III. iii. 99 The root itself in becoming rotten, supplies nutriment to the germinating plant.

1800 E. Darwin Phytologia x. viii. i. 230 The germinating barley in the malt-house I believe acquires not half its sweetness, till the life of the seed is destroyed.

1854 G. Gilfillan Life Blair in J. Beattie Poet. Wks. 128 Books..full of suggestive and germinating thought.

1900 Amer. Gardening 28 Apr. 292/1 At first the germinating seedling lies on its side.

1958 Times 8 Feb. 9/5 The polythene cover prevents undue evaporation of moisture and it ensures that the tiny germinating seeds never dry out.

2004 Chicago Tribune (Midwest ed.) 7 Mar. iv. 6/2 Consider investing in a light stand with stacked shelves of height-adjustable tube lights that provide..bottom heat to the germinating seeds above them.