footing

noun

1. 1

   A ground for the foot; place for the foot to rest on; firm foundation to stand on.

   In ascents, every step gained is a footing and help to the next.

2. 2

   A standing; position; established place; foothold.

   As soon, however, as he had obtained a footing at court, the charms of his manner […] made him a favorite.

   While the California economy maintains its powerhouse status[…] the state’s most-powerful sectors[…]have struggled to keep their footing, pummeled by high interest rates, investor skittishness, labor strife and other turmoil.

3. 3

   A relative condition; state.

   [L]ived on a footing of equality with nobles.

4. 4

   datedA tread; step; especially, a measured tread.

   Hark, I hear the footing of a man.

5. 5

   rareA footprint or footprints; tracks, someone's trail.

   The Monster swift as word, that from her went, Went forth in hast, and did her footing trace[…].

   A man must doe as some wilde beasts, which at the entrance of their caves, will have no manner of footing seene.

6. 6

   Stability or balance when standing on one's feet.

   He lost his footing and fell down.

   It was difficult to keep my footing on the ship during the storm.

   Terry lost his footing to allow Van Persie to race clear for Arsenal's fourth after 85 minutes before the Netherlands striker completed a second treble against Chelsea by hammering his third past Petr Cech deep into stoppage time.

7. 7

   Mental stability or balance.

   It's a lot for anybody to go through. But, while the others took weeks - hell, even months - to get used to everything, myself included, you found your footing in a matter of days.

8. 8

   The act of adding up a column of figures; the amount or sum total of such a column.

   The auditing of the accounts, when the defendant was present, was nothing more than the examinings of the footings of the bookkeeper.

9. 9

   The act of putting a foot to anything; also, that which is added as a foot

   the footing of a stocking

10. 10

    Foundation or basis for further advancement or development.

    The subsidy gives the organization a firm footing.

11. 11

    A narrow cotton lace, without figures.

12. 12

    The finer refuse part of whale blubber, not wholly deprived of oil.

13. 13

    The thickened or sloping portion of a wall, or of an embankment at its foot; foundation.

14. 14

    A double-check of the numbers vertically.

verb

1. 1

   Also a form of footpresent participle and gerund of foot

Forms

plural

footings