Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Gain?

\Gain\ (g[=a]n), n. [Cf. W. gan a mortise.] (Arch.) A square or beveled notch cut out of a girder, binding joist, or other timber which supports a floor beam, so as to receive the end of the floor beam.
\Gain\, a. [OE. gein, gain, good, near, quick; cf. Icel. gegn ready, serviceable, and gegn, adv., against, opposite. Cf. {Ahain}.] Convenient; suitable; direct; near; handy; dexterous; easy; profitable; cheap; respectable. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]
\Gain\ (g[=a]n), n. [OE. gain, gein, ga[yogh]hen, gain, advantage, Icel. gagn; akin to Sw. gagn, Dan. gavn, cf. Goth. gageigan to gain. The word was prob. influenced by F. gain gain, OF. gaain. Cf. {Gain}, v. t.] 1. That which is gained, obtained, or acquired, as increase, profit, advantage, or benefit; -- opposed to {loss}. But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. --Phil. iii. 7. Godliness with contentment is great gain. --1 Tim. vi. 6. Every one shall share in the gains. --Shak. 2. The obtaining or amassing of profit or valuable possessions; acquisition; accumulation. ``The lust of gain.'' --Tennyson.
\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.
\Gain\, v. i. To have or receive advantage or profit; to acquire gain; to grow rich; to advance in interest, health, or happiness; to make progress; as, the sick man gains daily. Thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbors by extortion. --Ezek. xxii. 12. {Gaining twist}, in rifled firearms, a twist of the grooves, which increases regularly from the breech to the muzzle. {To gain on} or {upon}. (a) To encroach on; as, the ocean gains on the land. (b) To obtain influence with. (c) To win ground upon; to move faster than, as in a race or contest. (d) To get the better of; to have the advantage of. The English have not only gained upon the Venetians in the Levant, but have their cloth in Venice itself. --Addison. My good behavior had so far gained on the emperor, that I began to conceive hopes of liberty. --Swift.