shrinking

1. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of shrink

comparative more shrinking · superlative most shrinking

1. Shy and retiring.

plural shrinkings

1. The act of one who, or that which, shrinks; act of becoming smaller or moving timidly away.

   The notion of a gently-nurtured girl being at the mercy of that fiend incarnate […] was one which caused me tangible shrinkings of the body.

   1897, Richard Marsh, The Beetle

   1 more example

   […] the silent grief beyond the power of words—the generous consolations of the noble sister—the shrinkings of the poor criminal, and his relapsings into a gentler penitence […]

   1822, The New Monthly Magazine and Literary Journal, volume 6, page 10