a1350 in Archiv f. das Studium der Neueren Sprachen (1911) 127 39 (MED) Mon þat meteþ him self sek ys, of wommon accusynge þat is.

c1400 (?a1300) Kyng Alisaunder (Laud) (1952) l. 3969 (MED) Þe kyng Gynneþ hym ȝiue swiche acusyng: ‘Þou..als a traitoure..com in oure atoure.’

c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer Parson's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) §438 Thanne comth accusynge, as whan man seketh occasion to anoyen his neighebore.

a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) I. 405 Whan kynge Angwysshe undirstood his accusyng he was passynge hevy.

a1538 T. Starkey Dial. Pole & Lupset (1989) 81 Ferther also in the accusyng of treson ther ys me semyth over grete lyberty.

1578 W. B. tr. Appian of Alexandria Aunc. Hist. Romanes Warres i. 45 After so many murders without law, accusings were broughte in againste Merula Iupiters priest, for anger of his office.

1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Clabauderie,..an enuious accusing.

1698 R. Ferguson View Ecclesiastick 46 I do take the Accusing and Reprimanding of Him for it, to fall within the Province which I have undertaken.

1766 T. Knight Serm. Important Subj. x. 260 While a sinner lies under the apparent frowns of his offended maker, and the bitter accusings of a guilty conscience, his state seems altogether insupportable.

1772 A. Adam Princ. Lat. & Eng. Gram. 151 Verbs of accusing, condemning, acquitting, valuing, and admonishing, govern the Accusative and Genitive.

1807 W. B. Maxwell Mysterious Father iii. 28 While living, I prefer the tomb's dread horrors To the accusings of a guilty heart.

1884 Radical Rev. 12 Apr. 3/2 The lawyer..who resorts to false testimony, the accusing of innocent people, and the other dishonest tricks of the trade.

1916 Century Aug. 579 The accusings and upbraidings thickened upon him, but Dylks sat silent except for a low groan of what might have seemed remorse.

1973 R. V. Fitzgerald Conjoint Marital Therapy 188 They do not fall too deeply into blaming and accusing and are more oriented toward an effort to reach understandings of each other.

2008 R. Drake Dead Place xvii. 185 I'm not accusing you of anything. You're the only one doing the accusing.

1548 N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. I. Mark ii. f. xxiii Behold there went also vnto Jesu certain of Iohns disciples in company with the false accusyng [L. calumniatoribus] Phariseis.

1572 J. Higgins Huloets Dict. (rev. ed.) Accusing woman, Accusatrix.

a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1590) ii. viii. sig. S6^v Accusing Sycophantes, of all men did best sort to his nature.

1630 J. Taylor Vrania i, in Wks. 1/1 Eternal God, which..at the doomefull day will once unhaspe Th' accusing booke of Subiects and of Kings.

1673 B. Keach War with Devil 20 My Name is Conscience, which you bear about, No other than th' accusing faculty, Of that dear Soul which in thy Brest doth lie.

1709 G. Stanhope Paraphr. Epist. & Gospels IV. 175 So bitter is the Reflection, so dismal is the Prospect of an accusing Mind.

1762 L. Sterne Life Tristram Shandy VI. viii. 42 The Accusing Spirit which flew up to heaven's chancery with the oath, blush'd as he gave it in.

1859 ‘G. Eliot’ Adam Bede I. i. ii. 35 So candid, so gravely loving, that no accusing scowl, no light sneer could help melting away before their glance.

1880 ‘M. Twain’ Tramp Abroad xxxv. 392 He bent an injured and accusing side gaze upon that unconscious old lady.

1942 Billboard 10 Oct. 10/1 But, as the girl goes off to get her father's gun, the husband of the accusing woman comes in at the head of a mob.

1974 G. F. Newman Price iii. 97 Sneed's questions were becoming more accusing.

2002 Dalesman Jan. 42/1 In most cases locals will be quick to point accusing fingers at incomers and second home owners.