c1443 R. Pecock Reule of Crysten Religioun (1927) 323 (MED) To lyue wiþynneforþ in deuout biþenking, affecting, and inward worching.

1564 N. Haward in tr. Eutropius Briefe Chron. To Rdr. sig. B.ii^v The affectynge and desyre of the attaynynge of the Greeke, Latyne, Italian and other tounges.

1584 E. Paget tr. J. Calvin Harmonie vpon Three Euangelists 316 Not only the affecting of fained holinesse, as I sayde before, made the Pharisies so sharpe and so cruell.

a1649 W. Drummond Wks. (1711) 162 If any Part of his Work distaste the Reader, it will be the extreme affecting of Policy.

1691 W. Mountfort Greenwich-Park v. i. 48 Loving all mischief, and Hating all good; affecting of Lewdness, when you know you'r incapable, this will bring you to the Devill in time old Knight.

1845 Amer. Whig Rev. Aug. 167/1 It is characterized by no whining sentimentalism, the most offensive of all affectation, the affecting of the holiest emotions.

1902 Amer. Jrnl. Psychol. 13 569 An improper assumption of authority in speech and conduct and often the affecting of ‘singularity in external appearances’ or a ‘singular way of speaking’.

1909 Times 30 Jan. 19/1 The use of old building materials, the planting of hedges of well-grown yew and purchasable topiary-works, the affecting of box edgings and sundials and ‘old-fashioned’ flowers are all parts of an impossible endeavour to have old gardens without waiting.

1612 F. Bacon Ess. (new ed.) 12 I take goodnesse in this sence, the affecting of the Weale of men, which is that the Græcians call Philanthropia.

1656 J. Smith Myst. Rhetorique Unvail'd 1 Hereby likewise the end of the discourse is set forward, to wit, the affecting of the heart with the sense of the matter in hand.

1757 E. Burke Philos. Enq. Sublime & Beautiful i. §2. 3 Pain and pleasure in their most simple and natural manner of affecting.

1998 Not only Eyes in sci.med.diseases.hepatitis (Usenet newsgroup) 29 Oct. This underlying ‘problem’ of HCV, the affecting of other body systems, should be taken very seriously.

1597 W. Shakespeare Romeo & Juliet ii. iii. 26 Limping antique affecting fantasticoes these new tuners of accents. View more context for this quotation

1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Pinsegreneur d'Amadis, a Phrasemonger..affecting speaker.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Merry Wives of Windsor (1623) ii. i. 133 I neuer heard such a drawling-affecting rogue. View more context for this quotation

1600 R. Surflet tr. C. Estienne & J. Liébault Maison Rustique Ded. sig. A3 Darius in his deepe affecting desire made choise of many such subiects and captaines.

1619 H. Hutton Compend. Hist. Ixion's Wheele in Follie's Anat. sig. D3^v To gratulate their kinde affecting Host.

1746 W. Stevenson True Patriot's Wishes 28 In Actions of unfeigned affecting Devotion, Self-improvement, Friendship, Hospitality, Almsgiving, good Œconomy.

1796 W. Beckford Mod. Novel Writing I. iv. 25 O madam, your ladyship's attention and affecting kindness oppress me still more than even the severity of my fate, alas! your ladyship is too good.

1665 J. Spencer Disc. Vulgar Prophecies 101 When we suddainly awake out of some very affecting dream.

1733 Oxf. Methodists 10 As the answer of this worthy gentleman..may be particularly affecting to you in the disposition of your Son, I obtained a copy of it.

1768 W. Blackstone Comm. Laws Eng. I. 12 How much more serious and affecting is the case of a superior judge.

1779 S. Johnson Milton in Pref. Wks. Eng. Poets II. 170 Epick poetry..relates some great event in the most affecting manner.

1800 J. Alves Banks of Esk Pref. p. vi The mind was not only alive, but at full liberty to indulge those sensations which the varied affecting scenery of the country, and the hospitality of the inhabitants, were calculated to inspire.

1703 S. Patrick Witnesses to Christianity (ed. 2) ii. 10 And again it is a very affecting Sense, which raises passion sooner and quicker than any other.

a1718 N. Rowe Ulysses (1720) ii. i. 46 Oh Nature, how affecting are thy Sorrows!

1757 E. Burke Philos. Enq. Sublime & Beautiful iii. §9. 91 Beauty in distress is much the most affecting beauty.

1790 Coll. Voy. round World VI. xxi. 2239 On hearing the recital of his affecting catastrophe.

1855 W. H. Prescott Hist. Reign Philip II of Spain I. i. i. 17 Even the most stoical, was touched by this affecting scene.

1882 N.Y. Times 16 Feb. 1/2 His grief was terrible and the scene was most affecting.

1950 Times 23 Jan. 7/5 He recaptures the atmosphere of childhood with a degree of truth and tenderness that is deeply affecting.

1990 R. Blount First Hubby 27 She also does this not only funny but strangely affecting takeoff of a stoned hippie singing ‘Show Me the Way to Go Om’.

2005 Sunday Herald Sun (Melbourne) (Nexis) 2 Oct. x6 Of a much more serious, and certainly more emotionally affecting nature, is the return this week of Nine's excellent long-running medical reality show RPA.

1794 S. Williams Nat. & Civil Hist. Vermont 46 Nor is the cold so affecting to the human body.

a1774 A. Tucker Light of Nature Pursued (1777) III. ii. xii. 75 But if we are instructed to believe the particular affectingness of a religious discourse proceeds from the workings of the Spirit.

1981 Times 25 Nov. p. iv/4 Two very different [novels]..pulsated in my year... As different as could be; equal in affectingness.