Taking, subst. state of extreme alarm, agony of fear: “what terror 'tis! but she, in worser t.” Lucr. 453. “what a t. was he in when your husband asked who was in the basket,” Wiv. III, 3, 191. As for t. == malignant influence, witchery (Lr. III, 4, 61), and t. off == cutting off, killing (Mcb. I, 7, 20. Lr. V, 1, 65), see Take.