gain

a. [ 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. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Phil. iii. 7. [ 1913 Webster ]

Godliness with contentment is great gain. 1 Tim. vi. 6. [ 1913 Webster ]

Every one shall share in the gains. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The obtaining or amassing of profit or valuable possessions; acquisition; accumulation. “The lust of gain.” Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Gained p. pr. & vb. n. Gaining. ] [ From gain, n. but. prob. influenced by F. 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, 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. 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 ]

a. [ CF. F. gagnable. See Gain, v. t. ] Capable of being obtained or reached. Sherwood. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. gaignage pasturage, crop, F. gaignage pasturage. See Gain, v. t. ] (O. Eng. Law) (a) The horses, oxen, plows, wains or wagons and implements for carrying on tillage. (b) The profit made by tillage; also, the land itself. Bouvier. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who gains. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Profitable; advantageous; lucrative. “A gainful speculation.” Macaulay. -- Gain"ful*ly, adv. -- Gain"ful*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]