beings

Noun

being (countable and uncountable, plural beings)

1. A living creature.
   • Minute grew into minute, and still there was no sign of life, nor did the curtain move; but I felt the gaze of the unknown being sinking through and through me, and filling me with a nameless terror, till the perspiration stood in beads upon my brow.1886 October – 1887 January, H[enry] Rider Haggard, “The Plain of Kôr”, in She: A History of Adventure, London: Longmans, Green, and Co., published 1887, →OCLC, page 126
2. The state or fact of existence, consciousness, or life, or something in such a state.
   • Claudius, thou / Wast follower of his fortunes in his being.1608-1634, John Webster (and perhaps Thomas Heywood), Appius and Virginia
3. That which has actuality (materially or in concept).
4. One's basic nature, or the qualities thereof; essence or personality.
5. (obsolete) An abode; a cottage.
   • It was a relief to dismiss them [Sir Roger's servants] into little beings within my manor.1712 December 4 (Gregorian calendar), [Richard Steele], “SUNDAY, November 24, 1712”, in The Spectator, number 544; republished in Alexander Chalmers, editor, The Spectator; a New Edition, […], volume...

See all 6 meanings of being