shrinking

verb

1. (form-of, gerund, participle, present)present participle and gerund of shrink

adj

1. Shy and retiring.

noun

1. The act of one who, or that which, shrinks; act of becoming smaller or moving timidly away.

   “[…] the silent grief beyond the power of words—the generous consolations of the noble sister—the shrinkings of the poor criminal, and his relapsings into a gentler penitence […]”

   “The notion of a gently-nurtured girl being at the mercy of that fiend incarnate […] was one which caused me tangible shrinkings of the body.”