Leading
Old English lǣdan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch leiden and German leiten, also to load and lode.
wiktionary
From Middle English ledinge, ledynge, ledand, ledande, ledende, from Old English lǣdende, from Proto-Germanic *laidijandz, present participle of Proto-Germanic *laidijaną(“to lead”), equivalent to lead + -ing. Cognate with German Leitung(“lin, conduit, cable”). More at lead.
From Middle English leding, ledyng, ledinge, ledunge, equivalent to lead + -ing.
From Middle English leedynge, equivalent to lead(chemical element) + -ing.
etymonline
leading (n.1)
"lead work; lead covering or frame of lead," mid-15c., verbal noun from lead (n.1). Printing sense is from 1855.
leading (n.2)
mid-13c., "a bringing by force," verbal noun from lead (v.1). Meaning "direction, guidance" is from late 14c.
leading (adj.)
1590s, "that goes first," present-participle adjective from lead (v.1). Meaning "directing, guiding" is from 1620s. Of persons, "having first or most prominent place," 1670s. In reference to theatrical companies, leading lady is from 1846; leading man from 1847.
