Obs. Forms: 1 wynn, (1 wunn, wenn), 3 wnne, wonne, (also 7) wun, 3–4 winne, (also 7) wunne, 3–5, 7 win, 4–5 wyn, wenne, 4–6 wynne, 5 wyne. [OE. wyn(n, corresp. to OS. wunnia, OHG. wunnja, wunna str. f., wunnî f. and wunno wk. masc. (MHG. wünne, wunne, G. wonne); f. Teut. wun-, found also in OE. ʓewun, wunian (see WONT), wýscan (:—*wunskjan) to WISH, and related to wen- (see WEEN sb. and v.) and WINE sb.2, friend. Cf. WINSOME.]
1. Joy, pleasure, delight, bliss; a source of joy, a delight.
Beowulf, 2262. Hearpan wyn, gomen gleobeames.
c. 1205. Lay., 9071. Jesu Crist … alre worulde wunne. Ibid., 22732. Ne mihte nauere mon cunne nan swa muchel wunne.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 192. Alle þeo ilke uondunges … þuncheð wouh, & nout wunne, auh heo wendeð efterward to weole and to eche blisse.
a. 1240. Ureisun, in O. E. Hom., I. 183. Ihesu mi weole, mi wunne.
c. 1275. Lay., 25569. Louerd drihtene crist … middilerþes win.
a. 1310. in Wright, Lyric P., xv. 47. Away is al my wunne.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 14908. Fair folk ys þere-inne! Þer faces to se, hit ys gret wynne!
c. 1386. Chaucer, Frankl. T., 54. Wyn, wo, or chaungynge of complexion.
c. 1425. Cast. Persev., 204, in Macro Plays, 83. Belyal. In woo is al my wenne.
c. 1700. Kennett, Lansd. MS. 1033, lf. 450 b. Wunsome, pleasant … a wunne gaudium, whence a wun to see, a pleasure or satisfaction to see.
b. In vague commendatory sense, and often in phr. with (or mid) win, which, orig. intensive, freq. becomes a mere tag.
c. 1205. Lay., 11474. Þenne maȝe we libben … & a to ure liue witen ure leoden mid winne & mid wurðscipe.
c. 1300. Havelok, 660. Slep sone, with michel winne. Ibid., 2965.
13[?]. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 15. On mony bonkkes ful brode Bretayn he settez, wyth wynne.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 9617. Þer com þey to þe toun wyþ wyn.
a. 1400. Sqr. lowe Degre, 263. Wyth welth and wynne to were the crowne.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 13346. Penolope,… Þat had keppit hir full cloise as a cleane lady, With myche worship & wyn.
14[?]. Poem to Virgin, in Rel. Ant., II. 213. Swete lady, full of wynne, Full of grace and gode within.
c. 1440. Syr Gowghter, 51, in Utterson, E. P. P., I. 163. The worthi duk and ducheese They levid togeder with wenne.
c. 1460. Towneley Myst., xxiv. 153. For I may swere with mekill wyn I am the most shrew in all myn kyn.
c. 1475. Rauf Coilȝear, 925. Wed ane worthie to wyfe, and weild her with win.
c. In benedictory phrases.
c. 1400. Ywaine & Gaw., 1113. Sho said smertly, Do lat me her, Cumes he sone, als have thou wyn. Ibid., 2219. So have i wyn, Mi lyoun and i sal noght twyn.
c. 1425. Seven Sag. (P.), 1373. So God almyghty gyf me wyne, Thou ne schalt to come hyre-ine.
a. 1500. Sir Beues (Pynson), 2453. There was a wel, so haue I wynne, And Beuys stumbled ryght therin.
1553. Bradford, Serm. Repentance, F viij b. Thoughe a great whyle he laye a slepe (as many do now a dayes, god geue them wynne waking) [ed. 1574 G ij by a misunderstanding reads good waking].
1640. M. Parker, King & poore North. Man, lxxx. Man, with thy money God give thee win.
2. Worldes winne (earlier woreld winne, OE. worolde wynn), also worldly winne: worldly delight or pleasure; later, by association with WIN sb.1, worldly wealth or possessions.
Beowulf, 1080. Þær heo ær mæste heold worolde wynne.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 147. On twa wise Mon mei forlete world winne.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 195. Erest he strepte of him his shep, þe waren his woreld winne.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 196. Worldes weole, & wunne, & wurschipe.
c. 1230. Hali Meid. (MS. Titus), 90. For worldliche wunne þat tu wendes to biȝeten.
c. 1325. Metr. Hom., 15. For rifli gers werldes win Thir fair wimmen fal in sin.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xvi. (Magdalena), 56. Þat mychty ware & of gret kyne, & mykil had of warldis wyne.
a. 1400. Minor Poems fr. Vernon MS., 337/341. Alle worldes winne He sendeþ, whon he wile.
1535. Lyndesay, Satyre, 3535. Covetice of warldlie win.
