GAIN, v.t. [Heb. to gain, to possess.]

Handy; dextrous. [Obs.]

1. Profit; interest; something obtained as an advantage. But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. – Phil. iii.
2. Unlawful advantage. – 2 Cor. xii.
3. Overplus in computation; any thing opposed to loss.

In architecture, a beveling shoulder; a lapping of timbers, or the cut that is made for receiving a timber. – Encyc.

1. To have advantage or profit; to grow rich; to advance in interest or happiness. Thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbors by extortion. – Ezek. xxii.
2. To encroach; to advance on; to come forward by degrees; with on; as, the ocean or river gains on the land.
3. To advance nearer; to gain ground on; with on; as, a fleet horse gains on his competitor.
4. 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. – Addison.
5. To obtain influence with. My good behavior had so far gained on the emperor, that I began to conceive hopes of liberty. – Swift. To gain the wind, in sea language, is to arrive on the windward side of another ship.

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? – Matth. xvi.
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. – Pope.
4. To obtain an increase of any thing; as, to gain time.
5. To obtain or receive any thing, good or bad; as, to gain harm and loss. – Acts xxvii.
6. To draw into any interest or party; to win to one's side; to conciliate. To gratify the queen, and gain the court. – Dryden. If he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. – Matth. xviii.
7. To obtain as a suitor. – Milton.
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. – Middleton. 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.

1. 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.
2. Convenient; suitable; direct; near; handy; dexterous; easy; profitable; cheap; respectable.
   
   
   [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]
3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. The obtaining or amassing of profit or valuable possessions; acquisition; accumulation.
   
   
   "The lust of gain." Tennyson.
7. 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.
8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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. 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.