Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Gain
Gain
,Noun.
[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
,Adj.
[OE.
gein
, gain
, good, near, quick; cf. Icel. gegn
ready, serviceable, and gegn
, adv., against, opposite. Cf. Again
.] Convenient; suitable; direct; near; handy; dexterous; easy; profitable; cheap; respectable.
[Obs. or Prov. Eng.]
Gain
(gān)
, Noun.
[OE. ]
gain
, gein
, gaȝhen
, 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
, Verb.
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
. Shakespeare
2.
The obtaining or amassing of profit or valuable possessions; acquisition; accumulation.
“The lust of gain.” Tennyson.
Gain
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Gained
(gānd)
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Gaining
.] [From but. prob. influenced by F. , profit.]
gain
, Noun.
gagner
to earn, gain, OF. gaaignier
to cultivate, OHG. weidinōn
, weidinen
to pasture, hunt, fr. weida
pasturage, G. weide
, akin to Icel. veiðr
hunting, AS. wāðu
, cf. L. venari
to hunt, E. venison
. See Gain
, Noun.
1.
To get, as profit or advantage; to obtain or acquire by effort or labor;
as, to
. gain
a good livingWhat 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.
Syn. – To obtain; acquire; get; procure; win; earn; attain; achieve.
Gain
,Verb.
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
dailyThou 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 To gain 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.
Webster 1828 Edition
Gain
GAIN
,Verb.
T.
1.
To obtain by industry or the employment of capital; to get as profit or advantage; to acquire. Any industrious person may gain a good living in America; but it is less difficult to gain property, than it is to use it with prudence. Money at interest may gain five, six, or seven per cent. What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world,and lose his own soul? Matt.16.
2.
To win; to obtain by superiority or success; as, to gain a battle or a victory; to gain a prize; to gain a cause in law.3.
To obtain; to acquire; to procure; to receive; as, to gain favor; to gain reputation. For fame with toil we gain, but lose with ease.
4.
To obtain an increase of anything; as, to gain time.5.
To obtain or receive anything, good or bad; as, to gain harm and loss. Acts. 27.6.
To draw into any interest or party; to win to one's side; to conciliate. To gratify the queen,and gain the court.
If he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. Matt.18.
7.
To obtain as a suitor.8.
To reach; to attain to; to arrive at; as, to gain the top of a mountain; to gain a good harbor.To gain into, to draw or persuade to join in.
He gained Lepidus into his measures.
To gain over, to draw to another party or interest; to win over.
To gain ground, to advance in any undertaking; to prevail; to acquire strength or extent; to increase.
GAIN
,Verb.
I.
Thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbors by extortion. Ezek. 22.
1.
To encroach; to advance on; to come forward by degrees; with on; as, the ocean or river gains on the land.2.
To advance nearer; to gain ground on; with on; as, a fleet horse gains on his competitor.3.
To get ground; to prevail against or have the advantage. The English have not only gained upon the Venetians in the Levant, but have their cloth in Venice itself.
4.
To obtain influence with. My good behavior had so far gained on the emperor,that I began to conceive hopes of liberty.
To gain the wind, in sea language, is to arrive on the windward side of another ship.
GAIN
,Noun.
But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Phil.3.
1.
Unlawful advantage. 2 Cor.12.2.
Overplus in computation; any thing opposed to loss.GAIN
,Noun.
GAIN
,Adj.