Meanings
- archaicnot comparableexcluding USBeing built or under construction, as a structure or a vessel.First known use First attested in the mid 16ᵗʰ century.
It [the monastery of St. Lawrence in Escorial] cost eight millions; it was twenty-four years abuilding, and the founder himself saw it furnished and enjoyed it twelve years after, […]
1913, William Dean Howells, Familiar Spanish Travels1 more example
Heere we made a double floore in the hall where the shippe was abuilding, so that the wild men, being ignorant of our way of building, could not take any notice of our cuningnesse, which proved to our desire.
c. 1658, Pierre-Esprit Radisson, Voyages of Peter Esprit Radisson - archaicnot comparableexcluding USDeveloping or arising, as a trend or an idea.First known use First attested in the mid 16ᵗʰ century.
This may signify much; among other things that the courtesan is creeping into social favor—even that a new code of morals is now abuilding, in which she will be the grand exemplar.
a. 1898, William Cowper Brann, Woman's Wickedness
Origin
From a- (“in, on”) + building (“the act or process of building”).
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
abuilding. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/abuilding
“abuilding.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/abuilding. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “abuilding,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/abuilding.
Source: abuilding on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.