shifting

Etymology

noun

  1. A shift or change; a shifting movement.
    I remember the last time I saw Macbeth played, the discrepancy I felt at the changes of garment which he varied, the shiftings and reshiftings, like a Romish priest at mass. 1811, Charles Lamb, On the Tragedies of Shakespeare Considered with Reference to their Fitness for Stage Representation
    Then everyone moved at the same time — slight shiftings of the hands and feet, furtive easings of position. 1978, Jack Vance, The View from Chickweed's Window
  2. (linguistics) The phenomenon by which two or more constituents appearing on the same side of their common head exchange positions to obtain non-canonical order.

verb

  1. present participle and gerund of shift

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