catflap.org Online Dictionary Query

  Gain \Gain\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Gained (g[=a]nd); p. pr. &
     vb. n. Gaining.] [From gain, n. but. prob. influenced by F.
     gagner to earn, gain, OF. gaaignier to cultivate, OHG.
     weidin[=o]n, weidinen to pasture, hunt, fr. weida pasturage,
     G. weide, akin to Icel. vei[eth]r hunting, AS. w[=a][eth]u,
     cf. L. venari to hunt, E. venison. See Gain, n., profit.]
     [1913 Webster]
     1. To get, as profit or advantage; to obtain or acquire by
        effort or labor; as, to gain a good living.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole
              world, and lose his own soul?         --Matt. xvi.
                                                    26.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              To gain dominion, or to keep it gained. --Milton.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              For fame with toil we gain, but lose with ease.
                                                    --Pope.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. To come off winner or victor in; to be successful in; to
        obtain by competition; as, to gain a battle; to gain a
        case at law; to gain a prize.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. To draw into any interest or party; to win to one's side;
        to conciliate.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              If he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
                                                    --Matt. xviii.
                                                    15.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              To gratify the queen, and gained the court.
                                                    --Dryden.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     4. To reach; to attain to; to arrive at; as, to gain the top
        of a mountain; to gain a good harbor.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Forded Usk and gained the wood.       --Tennyson.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     5. To get, incur, or receive, as loss, harm, or damage. [Obs.
        or Ironical]
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Ye should . . . not have loosed from Crete, and to
              have gained this harm and loss.       --Acts xxvii.
                                                    21.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Gained day, the calendar day gained in sailing eastward
        around the earth.
  
     To gain ground, to make progress; to advance in any
        undertaking; to prevail; to acquire strength or extent.
  
     To gain over, to draw to one's party or interest; to win
        over.
  
     To gain the wind (Naut.), to reach the windward side of
        another ship.
  
     Syn: To obtain; acquire; get; procure; win; earn; attain;
          achieve.
  
     Usage: See Obtain. -- To Gain, Win. Gain implies only
            that we get something by exertion; win, that we do it
            in competition with others. A person gains knowledge,
            or gains a prize, simply by striving for it; he wins a
            victory, or wins a prize, by taking it in a struggle
            with others.
            [1913 Webster]

  Gain \Gain\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Gained (g[=a]nd); p. pr. &
     vb. n. Gaining.] [From gain, n. but. prob. influenced by F.
     gagner to earn, gain, OF. gaaignier to cultivate, OHG.
     weidin[=o]n, weidinen to pasture, hunt, fr. weida pasturage,
     G. weide, akin to Icel. vei[eth]r hunting, AS. w[=a][eth]u,
     cf. L. venari to hunt, E. venison. See Gain, n., profit.]
     1. To get, as profit or advantage; to obtain or acquire by
        effort or labor; as, to gain a good living.
  
              What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole
              world, and lose his own soul?         --Matt. xvi.
                                                    26.
  
              To gain dominion, or to keep it gained. --Milton.
  
              For fame with toil we gain, but lose with ease.
                                                    --Pope.
  
     2. To come off winner or victor in; to be successful in; to
        obtain by competition; as, to gain a battle; to gain a
        case at law; to gain a prize.
  
     3. To draw into any interest or party; to win to one's side;
        to conciliate.
  
              If he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
                                                    --Matt. xviii.
                                                    15.
  
              To gratify the queen, and gained the court.
                                                    --Dryden.
  
     4. To reach; to attain to; to arrive at; as, to gain the top
        of a mountain; to gain a good harbor.
  
              Forded Usk and gained the wood.       --Tennyson.
  
     5. To get, incur, or receive, as loss, harm, or damage. [Obs.
        or Ironical]
  
              Ye should . . . not have loosed from Crete, and to
              have gained this harm and loss.       --Acts xxvii.
                                                    21.
  
     Gained day, the calendar day gained in sailing eastward
        around the earth.
  
     To gain ground, to make progress; to advance in any
        undertaking; to prevail; to acquire strength or extent.
  
     To gain over, to draw to one's party or interest; to win
        over.
  
     To gain the wind (Naut.), to reach the windward side of
        another ship.
  
     Syn: To obtain; acquire; get; procure; win; earn; attain;
          achieve.
  
     Usage: See Obtain. -- To Gain, Win. Gain implies only
            that we get something by exertion; win, that we do it
            in competition with others. A person gains knowledge,
            or gains a prize, simply by striving for it; he wins a
            victory, or wins a prize, by taking it in a struggle
            with others.