footing
/ˈfʊtɪŋ/ noun C1- A ground for the foot; place for the foot to rest on; firm foundation to stand on.
- A standing; position; established place; foothold.
- A relative condition; state.
- A tread; step; especially, a measured tread.
- 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.
- Mental stability or balance.
- The act of adding up a column of figures; the amount or sum total of such a column.
- The act of putting a foot to anything; also, that which is added as a foot · the footing of a stocking
Plural footings
From the library
When she was halfway across the room there came a great shriek from the wind, and the house shook so hard that she lost her footing and sat down suddenly upon the floor.
As he was crossing through the water he lost his footing, stumbled and fell, and not being able to rise on account of his load, groaned heavily.
A FOX was mounting a hedge when he lost his footing and caught hold of a Bramble to save himself.
Albert’s attack on Andrea had placed him on a different footing, and he hoped this visit had another cause than that he had at first supposed.
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