Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A person who is fond or foolish; one of weak mind or character; a fool.
  • noun A person or thing fondled or caressed.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun A person or thing fondled or caressed; one treated with foolish or doting affection.
  • noun obsolete A fool; a simpleton; a ninny.
  • noun The act of caressing; manifestation of tenderness.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun a pet, person or inanimate object of fondling (see below verb)
  • verb Present participle of fondle.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun affectionate play (or foreplay without contact with the genital organs)

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From the obsolete verb to fond 'fondle' + -ling

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Examples

  • Ever after, these persons can handle the most venomous snakes with impunity; can make them come by calling them, have great pleasure in fondling them; and the bite of these persons is poisonous!

    Life in Mexico, During a Residence of Two Years in That Country Frances Erskine Inglis 1843

  • Eugenia were rivalling each other in fondling the rescued spaniel, and in pouring thanks and praise unlimited upon Edgar.

    Camilla: or, A Picture of Youth 1796

  • First of all, with a woman coming forward, aged 20 now, of a complaint five years before, where, after so-called fondling, she willingly goes alone to his apartment and ends up in bed.

    CNN Transcript Dec 8, 2006 2006

  • In two of the images, the boys are described as fondling themselves, but the court papers make no mention of violent sex or the presence of adults in any of the images.

    The Buffalo News: Home 2009

  • I have a lot of respect for the people who sent their stuff to the Crapometer for 'fondling'.

    Archive 2006-03-05 Miss Snark 2006

  • Chris Matthews, who chose the curiously sweet, rather affectionate word "fondling" to describe Mr. Schwarzenegger's behavior, seemed mostly interested in getting Senator Dianne Feinstein to compare the actor's grotesqueries to Mr. Clinton's affair with Monica Lewinsky.

    Eschaton 2003

  • Chris Matthews, who chose the curiously sweet, rather affectionate word "fondling" to describe Mr. Schwarzenegger's behavior, seemed mostly interested in getting Senator Dianne Feinstein to compare the actor's grotesqueries to Mr. Clinton's affair with Monica Lewinsky.

    Archive 2003-10-01 2003

  • Reuters names the alleged victim of Robinson's "fondling".

    Philocrites: August 2003 Archives 2003

  • So it turns out that "fondling" is not part of the standard field sobriety test Radio station for blind to go off air, victim of budget cuts.

    Latest News - UPI.com 2010

  • So it turns out that "fondling" is not part of the standard field sobriety test Radio station for blind to go off air, victim of budget cuts.

    Latest News - UPI.com 2010

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  • WeirdNet (1 & 2) has sex on the brain again.

    July 23, 2008