wending

Wending is the act of moving in a specified direction, especially along a winding or indirect route. The verb wend, with its present participle wending, is used to describe progressing along a path or course, rather than simply moving forward quickly. The phrase wend one's way is common in travel writing and literature: for example, someone might wend their way through a forest or along a coastline.

Etymology and sense: Wend comes from Old English wendan, to turn or go; it is related to wind in the sense of turning, but it is not directly connected to the noun wind. The sense of moving along a route developed in Middle English and remains largely literary today.

Usage: In modern English, wend is considered formal or archaic and is unlikely to appear in casual conversation except in stylized writing or historical narratives. The past tense is wended, and the present participle is wending. Synonyms include proceed, go, travel, or make one’s way. Meander can be a related notion, though it emphasizes irregularity of path rather than direction alone.

Noun form: Wending can also function as a gerund or noun, referring to the act of moving or the process of following a route, though this usage is relatively uncommon outside of literary contexts.

See also: Wend, Wind, Meander, Make one's way.