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Gain vs Gin - What's the difference?

gain | gin |

As a preposition gain

is (obsolete) against.

As an adjective gain

is (obsolete) straight, direct; near; short.

As an adverb gain

is (obsolete) straightly; quickly; by the nearest way or means.

As a noun gain

is the act of gaining or gain can be (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.

As a verb gain

is to acquire possession of what one did not have before.

As a symbol gin is

the iso 3166-1 three-letter (alpha-3) code for guinea.

gain

English

Etymology 1

From dialectal English (m), (m), short for (m), . More at (l).

Preposition

(English prepositions)
  • (obsolete) Against.
    • Derived terms
    * (l)

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) (m), (m), , from the adjective.

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (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 adverb)
  • (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) ----

    gin

    English

    Etymology 1

    Abbreviation of geneva or alternatively from (etyl) . Hence Gin rummy (first attested 1941).

    Noun

    (wikipedia gin)
  • A colourless non-aged alcoholic liquor made by distilling fermented grains such as barley, corn, oats or rye with juniper berries; the base for many cocktails.
  • (uncountable) gin rummy
  • (poker) drawing the best card or combination of cards
    • Derived terms
    * bathtub gin * sloe gin
    Related terms
    * genever
    References
    * *

    Etymology 2

    Aphetism of (etyl) .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (obsolete) A trick; a device or instrument.
  • (obsolete) Contrivance; artifice; a trap; a snare.
    • (Chaucer)
    (Spenser)
  • A snare or trap for game.
  • A machine for raising or moving heavy objects, consisting of a tripod formed of poles united at the top, with a windlass, pulleys, ropes, etc.
  • (mining) A hoisting drum, usually vertical; a whim.
  • A pile driver.
  • A windpump.
  • A cotton gin.
  • An instrument of torture worked with screws.
    • Related terms
    * (cotton gin) ginner, ginnery

    Verb

    (ginn)
  • To remove the seeds from cotton with a cotton gin.
  • To trap something in a gin.
  • To invent (via Irish), see gin up

    • Etymology 3

    From (etyl)

    Verb

  • (archaic) To begin.

    • Etymology 4

    From (etyl) dyin, but having acquired a derogatory tone., Australian Aboriginal Words'', Oxford University Press, 1990, ISBN 0-19-553099-3, page 167.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An Aboriginal woman.
  • * 1869 , Thomas Livingstone Mitchell, Three Expeditions into the Interior of Eastern Australia , Volume 1, page 273,
    • His next shot was discharged amongst the mob, and most unfortunately wounded the gin already mentioned ; who, with a child fastened to her back, slid down the bank, and lay, apparently dying, with her legs in the water.
  • * 1988 , Tom Cole, Hell West and Crooked , Angus & Robertson, 1995, p.179,
    • Dad said Shoesmith and Thompson had made one error that cost them their lives by letting the gins into the camp, and the blacks speared them all.
  • * 2008 , Bill Marsh, Jack Goldsmith, Goldie: Adventures in a Vanishing Australia , unnumbered page,
    • But there was this gin there, see, what they called a kitchen girl.
    Synonyms
    * lubra
    Derived terms
    * gin burglar * gin burglary * gin hunter * gin jockey * gin shepherd * gin stealer * gin’s piss
    References

    Anagrams

    * ----