# healing

Pronunciation: say "HEE-ling" /ˈhiːlɪŋ/

## Noun

1. The process by which cells in the body regenerate and repair damaged tissue.
   - Simple: The way the body fixes itself after an injury or illness.
   - _Healing of the fractured bone took several months of careful rest._
   - _Doctors monitored the wound's healing closely in the days after surgery._
3. The mental and emotional process of working through painful or difficult problems.
   - Simple: Getting better in your mind after something hard or painful.
   - _Healing from grief is rarely a straight, predictable path._
   - _Therapy finally gave him the space he needed for real healing._
4. A cure brought about by spiritual or religious means, as performed by a faith healer.
   - Simple: A cure that someone believes comes from faith or spiritual power.
   - _Crowds gathered at the revival tent seeking healing._
   - _He claimed that faith alone could bring about healing._

## Verb

2. Present participle of heal. — present participle and gerund of heal
   - Simple: Present participle of heal. Use this -ing form when the action is happening now.
   - _The deep wound was healing faster than the doctors expected._
   - _Slowly healing, the burn no longer caused her any pain._

## Origin

**Meanings 1, 3–4** — From Middle English heelinge, from Old English hǣling ("healing"), from Proto-Germanic *hailingō, tied to *hailijaną ("to heal"); equivalent to heal + -ing. It is related to Dutch heling and German Heilung ("healing; cure").
**Meaning 2** — From Middle English heelyng, equivalent to heal + -ing.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/healing (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).