1465 J. Paston in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) I. 395 If it plese yow þat the seyd Syr Thomas Lyndys schal be of yowre promotyng..þat then it lyke yow þat I may haue answere by the berere herof.

c1484 (a1475) J. de Caritate tr. Secreta Secret. (Takamiya) (1977) 116 (MED) The fyue and twenty [chapter], of promotyng of stody be personys dysposyd in sundry syens in a kyngdam.

?1530 J. Rastell Pastyme of People sig. *Ai^v [He was accursed] for promotynge of benefyces by Symony.

1566 in T. Thomson Acts & Proc. Kirk of Scotl. (1839) I. 87 And we both travell in the promoting [ Bk. Universall Kirk of Scotl. 50, promoving] of Chrysts kingdome.

1615 W. Hull Mirrour of Majestie 23 The..exployting of any thing tending to the promoting of the Romish brethren.

1649 J. Milton Observations in Articles of Peace with Irish Rebels 49 To give the first promoting..to his own tyrannicall designes in England.

1672 Bp. J. Wilkins Of Princ. Nat. Relig. i. xiv. 214 Deriving their obligation from their conducibility to the promoting of our chief end.

1713 (title) The monitor. Intended for the promoting of religion and virtue, and suppressing vice.

1770 P. Luckombe Conc. Hist. Printing 41 For the promoting of their pious designs.

1819 Times 12 Mar. 3/6 As the Lecturer's chief object is the promoting of science, the terms are made very moderate, to ensure a full attendance.

1889 F. Wharton Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of U.S. 701 For the promoting of harmony and forwarding the common views of France and America, it was further agreed between the minister of France and your committee that [etc.].

1934 K. Dunlap Civilized Life x. 323 Certain philanthropic groups, foundations, and charitable organizations, seem to find their reasons for existence in the promoting of the welfare of persons outside of the group.

1971 Sunday Times (Johannesburg) 28 Mar. 7/2 The manoeuvring, the muscling, the promoting and the hustling which is the flip-side of showbiz.

2004 Mixmag Apr. 78 I've learnt promoting isn't just about hiring a load of DJs and luring drunk bints back to yours on the promise of free coke.

1581 G. Pettie tr. S. Guazzo Ciuile Conuersat. ii. 223 They indevour to set up themselves, either by flatterie, either by promoting, either by slaundering, or by false accusing, and other naughtie meanes.

1591 H. Savile tr. Tacitus Ende of Nero: Fower Bks. Hist. ii. 58 Annius Faustus..condemned of promoting.

1922 Proc. Royal Soc. A. 102 28 Whether the constituents of the more suitable supports also exert a specific activating (‘promoting’) effect on the nickel.

1947 Jrnl. Polymer Sci. 2 42 Aliphatic mercaptans in the butadiene-styrene recipe with persulfate as catalyst exert a strong promoting effect upon the copolymerization.

2004 Jrnl. Synchrotron Radiation 11 414/2 A comparison of various noble metals showed that reduction of the promoter is first required to achieve the promoting effect.

1596 J. Harington Apol. sig. Aavj^v Least some hungrie promoting fellowes should beg it as a concealement.

1604 M. Drayton Owle sig. D3^v Steps in this false spye, this promoting wretch, Closely betrayes him that he giues to each.

1614 N. Breton I would & I would Not sig. C2^v I would I were a close promoting Mate, To picke a hole in each offenders Coat.

1627 R. Sanderson Ten Serm. 192 Informing, and promoting, and pettifogging make-bates.

1640 W. Vaughan Church Militant 319 Touch not that Noat, Lest you be term'd a rash-promoting Goat, Incurring Scorne with hobbubs and out-cries, For glancing at our Modernes Robberies.

1662 T. Fuller Worthies 72 Wat was woundly angry with Sir John..for..not making his appoaches mannerly enough unto him; Oh the pride of a self-promoting Pesant!

1744 ‘J. Love’ Cricket i. 6 Of Sloth-promoting Sports, forewarn'd beware!

1767 T. Underwood Snarlers 20 At this he starts..attacking Foes and Friends, With Self-promoting Interest in View, He mangles all Respect.

1823 J. S. Mill Autobiogr. (1924) 273 The Catholic priesthood added..the crime-promoting doctrine of indulgences.

1846 Southern Q. Rev. Oct. 440 Every great discovery has a life-saving and peace-promoting influence.

1871 ‘M. Legrand’ Cambr. Freshman 250 Hunting the Drag..is so innocent, so health-promoting, and in every way so praiseworthy an amusement.

1904 Westm. Gaz. 1 Feb. 2/2 Colossal company-promoting swindlers.

1931 Fortune Aug. 110/1 The clearest example of a fine, royal bull-market pipe line, exhibiting a strong bias toward the promoting aspects of the development, is seen in the great Missouri-Kansas Pipe Line Co.

2001 New Scientist 11 Aug. 86/1 (advt.) Fertiliser and growth promoting properties of vermicomposts produced from a range of organic wastes.

1907 Science 11 Oct. 474/1 (heading) On the promoting influence of heated tumor emulsions on tumor growth.

1944 Jrnl. Exper. Med. 80 101 (title) The initiating and promoting elements in tumor production.

1966 Lancet 31 Dec. 1457/2 Should such initiated skin be subsequently treated with a promoting agent (not itself carcinogenic), the train of events leading to cancer is again accelerated so that a visible tumour appears at the initiated site.

2003 Carcinogenesis 24 1683 We thus speculated that haem might be the promoting agent [of colon cancer] in meat.