gain - What does it mean?
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Definition of 'gain'English
Etymology 1
From dialectal English (m), (m), short for (m), . More at (l).
Preposition
( en-prep)
(obsolete) Against.
Derived terms
* (l)
Etymology 2
From (etyl) (m), (m), , from the adjective.
Adjective
( en-adj)
(obsolete) Straight, direct; near; short.
- the gainest way
(obsolete) Suitable; convenient; ready.
(dialectal) Easy; tolerable; handy, dexterous.
(dialectal) Honest; respectable; moderate; cheap.
Derived terms
* (l)
* (l)
Adverb
( en-adv)
(obsolete) Straightly; quickly; by the nearest way or means.
(dialectal) Suitably; conveniently; dexterously; moderately.
(dialectal) Tolerably; fairly.
- gain quiet (= fairly/pretty quiet)
Etymology 3
From (etyl) (m), .
The Middle English word was reinforced by (etyl) . Related to (l), (l).
Noun
( en-noun)
The act of gaining.
* Tennyson
- the lust of gain
What one gains, as a return on investment or dividend.
- No pain, no gain .
* Shakespeare
- Everyone shall share in the gains .
(electronics) The factor by which a signal is multiplied.
Antonyms
* loss
Derived terms
* autogain
* gainful
* gainsome
Verb
( en-verb)
To acquire possession of what one did not have before.
- Looks like you've gained a new friend.
* Bible, Matthew xvi. 26
- What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
* Alexander Pope
- For fame with toil we gain , but lose with ease.
To have or receive advantage or profit; to acquire gain; to grow rich; to advance in interest, health, or happiness; to make progress.
- The sick man gains daily.
* Bible, Ezekiel xxii. 12
- Thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbours by extortion.
(dated) To come off winner or victor in; to be successful in; to obtain by competition.
- to gain''' a battle; to '''gain a case at law
To increase.
* 1883 , (Howard Pyle), (The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood)
- Then they had bouts of wrestling and of cudgel play, so that every day they gained in skill and strength.
To be more likely to catch or overtake an individual.
- I'm gaining (on you).
- gain ground
To reach.
- to gain the top of a mountain
* 1907 , Jack London, The Iron Heel :
- Ernest laughed harshly and savagely when he had gained the street.
To draw into any interest or party; to win to one's side; to conciliate.
* Bible, Matthew xviii. 15
- If he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
* Dryden
- to gratify the queen, and gain the court
To put on weight.
- I've been gaining .
(of a clock or watch) To run fast.
Etymology 4
Compare (etyl) .
Noun
( en-noun)
(architecture) A square or bevelled 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.
Anagrams
* (l)
* (l)
* (l), (l)
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Similar to 'gain'gun, gown, gin, gan, goon, gen, gaon, gean, gon, geon, gowan, guan, giuen, goin, gein, ginn, goan, gawn, ghayn
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