From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
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.]
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1. To get, as profit or advantage; to obtain or acquire by
effort or labor; as, to gain a good living.
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What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole
world, and lose his own soul? --Matt. xvi.
26.
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To gain dominion, or to keep it gained. --Milton.
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For fame with toil we gain, but lose with ease.
--Pope.
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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.
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3. To draw into any interest or party; to win to one's side;
to conciliate.
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If he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
--Matt. xviii.
15.
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To gratify the queen, and gained the court.
--Dryden.
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4. To reach; to attain to; to arrive at; as, to gain the top
of a mountain; to gain a good harbor.
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Forded Usk and gained the wood. --Tennyson.
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5. To get, incur, or receive, as loss, harm, or damage. [Obs.
or Ironical]
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Ye should . . . not have loosed from Crete, and to
have gained this harm and loss. --Acts xxvii.
21.
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{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.
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