designing

Definitions

From design ('to mark out a plan') + -ing. The neutral noun is simply the act of designing. But as an adjective it took a moral turn: a designing person is always 'making plans' — scheming, plotting for selfish ends. Same root as design, but the secret-plan side of planning won out.

Common Collocations

• 1.designing person工于心计的人
• 2.designing mind算计的心思
• 3.designing woman工于心计的女人

Example Sentences

• 1.

  She distrusted him, sensing a designing mind behind the smile.

• 2.

  The novel's villain is a cold, designing schemer.