Pronunciation: [pˈɜːsɪŋ] (IPA) 
Pursing, /ˈpəːsɪŋ/, is a verb that describes the action of forming one's lips into a small circle or pucker, often in a sign of disapproval or thoughtfulness. The word is spelled with a 'u' after the 'p', which is pronounced as a short 'uh' sound as in 'hut'. The 's' is pronounced as usual, and the 'i' is pronounced as a short 'ih' sound as in 'kit'. The final '-ing' is pronounced as '-ing,' with the 'i' being a short 'ih' sound.
Pursing, as a verb, refers to the act of tightening or drawing together one's lips or the muscles around one's mouth into a small, rounded shape. It involves the movement of the lips towards one another, creating a pucker or a purse-like form. This action is typically done intentionally and consciously, either as a physical expression of certain emotions, a deliberate gesture, or as part of one's communication style.
The action of pursing one's lips can convey various meanings depending on the context and accompanying body language. For example, it is often associated with signaling disapproval, skepticism, or annoyance. On the other hand, pursing the lips in a subtle smile may suggest amusement or playfulness. It can also be used to indicate concentration or deep thought, as seen when someone is engrossed in a task or thinking deeply about something.
The term "pursing" can also be used to describe the act of gathering, collecting, or bringing items together into a smaller, more condensed form. This action involves the manipulation and arrangement of objects, typically done with the hands or by using a container or bag. For instance, pursing one's fingers or hands together in order to grasp or hold onto something tightly can be described as pursing. Similarly, pulling the drawstrings of a bag or pouch to close it and create a tighter enclosure can also be referred to as pursing.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "pursing" does not have a distinct etymology as it is a derivative or the present participle form (-ing form) of the verb "purse". However, we can look at the origin of the word "purse" to gain some insights.
The noun "purse" originally comes from the Old English word "purs", which was a term for a small bag or pouch used to carry money, treasures, or personal items. The Old English word can be traced back to the Late Latin word "bursa", meaning "bag" or "pouch". This Latin term also influenced the word "bursary" and "bursar" in English.
Over time, the term "purse" expanded its meaning to not only represent a bag for carrying money but also a small bag used by women for holding personal belongings like cosmetics, keys, and other small items.
