besetting

== English == === Etymology === From beset +‎ -ing. === Verb === besetting present participle and gerund of beset === Noun === besetting (plural besettings) The act of one who besets or attacks. === Adjective === besetting (comparative more besetting, superlative most besetting) Deeply rooted; persistent. 1907, E.M. Forster, The Longest Journey, Part I, XIII [Uniform ed., p. 144]: Rickie would not push himself. It was his besetting sin. Obsessive == Afrikaans == === Etymology === From Dutch bezetting, from Middle Dutch besettinge. Equivalent to beset +‎ -ing. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /bəˈsɛ.təŋ/ === Noun === besetting (plural besettings or besettinge (dated)) occupation