Pa. t. and pple. won. Forms: Inf. α. 1–2 winnan, (1 wynnan), 3 winnen, (Orm.) -enn, 3–6 wynne, (3–5 -en), 3–7 winne, 3–8 winn, (4 whyn, Sc. vyn(e), 4–6 wine, wyne, wynn, wyn, (5 wenne), 4– win. β. (chiefly Sc.) 5, 7–8 wone, 6–9 won, 7 wonne, 9 wun, Pa. t. α. 1, 4 wann, 1–7 (8–9 dial. and arch.) wan, (4–5 whan(ne), 4–6 wane, (Sc. van), 4–7 wanne, (6 Sc. vane). β. 1. 2nd pers. sing. wunne; pl. 1 wunnon, 1, 5 wunnun, 3 (Orm.) -enn, 3–5 wonne(e, 4–5 -yn, 5 wonen, -yn; 4–6 wunne, 6–7 wun. γ. 1 wonn, 4–7 wonne, (5 whonne), 6–7 woon, 1– won. δ. 6 winned, 7 wined. Pa. pple. α. 3–4 wunnen, (3 Orm. -enn), 4–5 wunne, 4 (6 Sc.) wun, (5 north. vun, 6 Sc. wvne); 4 (5 Sc.) woun, 5 Sc. wown, (woung). β1. 4 wonnun, (Sc. wonone, vonnyn, vonyng), 4–5 wonnin, -ene, -yn(e, wonen(e, -yn(e, 4–6 wonnen, 5 wonun, (Sc. wonnyng). β2. 3–4 iwonne, 3–5 ywonne, 4 ywon, 5 ywone, ywonnen, e-wonne. β3, 4–7 wonne, (8 Sc.) wone, 5–7 wonn, 4– won; 6–7 woon(e, 6 woonne). γ. 4–7 wan, 6 wanne. δ. Sc. 5 winin, (wyn(n)ynge); 6 winn, wyn, wyne, 6–8 win, 7 winne, wynn. (Cf. WIN ppl. a.) 6. ε wind. [Com. Teut. str. vb.: OE. winnan, (wann, wunnen), also ʓewinnan I-WIN v. = OFris. winna to obtain, OS. winnan to suffer, win, giwinnan to obtain, (MLG., MDu. winnen to till the ground, obtain, acquire), OHG. winnan (MHG. winnen) to be excited, rage, contend, exert oneself, also gawinnan to gain as by labor or exertion (MHG., G. gewinnen), ON. vinna to labor, bring about, gain (Sw. vinna, Da. vinde), Goth. (ga)winnan to suffer: ulterior relations are uncertain; forms of cognate meaning are Goth. winno, winna, wunns suffering, OHG. winna conflict, MHG. winne pain, ON. vinna labor; see also WITHERWIN (OE. wiþerwinna, OHG. widarwinno).
The senses run parallel to a considerable extent with those of GAIN v.2 and GET v.]
† 1. intr. To work, labor (OE.); to strive, contend, fight. Obs.
Beowulf, 506. Eart þu se Beowulf, se þe wið Brecan wunne?
c. 888. Ælfred, Boeth., xxxv. § 4. Nis nan ʓesceaft þe tiohhie þæt hio scyle winnan wið hire scippendes willan.
c. 900. trans. Bæda’s Hist., IV. iii. (1890), 264. He þy ma mid his hondum wonn & worhte þa þing, þe nydþearfleco wæron.
a. 1000. in Wr.-Wülcker, 202/41. Pugnaui, ic wan.
a. 1122. O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.), an. 685. Her ongan Ceadwala winnan æfter rice.
c. 1200. Ormin, 3488. Forr þatt menn sholldenn … winnenn swa to cumenn upp till heofennrichess blisse.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 51. Ierusalem and babilonie beð two burȝes, and fliteð eure, and winneð bitwinen hem. Ibid., 187. Iob … wan wið þe þurse.
c. 1220. Bestiary, 521. Til it cumeð ðe time Ðat storm stireð al ðe se, Ðanne sumer and winter winnen.
† 2. trans. To conquer, subdue, overcome, defeat, vanquish, ‘beat.’ Obs.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 136. Alle þes kinges were þo, ac bote on nov þer nis; Vor þe king of westsex alle þe oþere wan iwis.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 14832. He has vs wonnen [c. 1375 Fairf. MS. wonnin] wit maistri.
13[?]. Guy Warw. (A.), 889. Wel mani kniȝtes Gij wan þat day.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, XII. 47. He thoucht that he suld weill lichtly Vyn hym, and haf hym at his will.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, vii. (Jacobus Minor), 752. Quhene þat tytus Ierusalem had wonone.
c. 1400. Ragman Roll, 168, in Hazl., E. P. P., I. 76. Or that ye be conqueryd and e-wonne.
c. 1420. Avow. Arth., xxii. Thus hase he wonun Kay on werre.
c. 1470. Golagros & Gaw., 1198. Wourschipful Wavane had wonnin him on weir.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, VII. xxiii. 250. He wanne me in playne bataille hande for hand.
1513. Life Hen. V. (1911), 108. He deliberated by proces of time to wynn them by hunger and thirst.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot. (Rolls), I. 84. How that Reuthar … faucht with Cecelus … and wan him.
1577. T. Kendall, Flowers Epigr., 38 b. Here sensuall pleasure doeth assault to winne me by her might.
1610. Heywood, Gold. Age, V. i. Creet thou hast wonne My thirty thousand Souldiers, and my Sonne.
fig. 1567. Maplet, Gr. Forest, 1. But whiles it [sc. the adamant] is inuincible or can not be woonne that way [sc. by fire]: yet … with the … freshe bloud of the Goate, it breaketh … in sunder.
1575. A. F., Virg. Bucol., vii. 22. Phillis loues the Hazils well,… The Myrtle shall them neuer wynne, nor Phoebus Bay trees tall.
3. To be victorious in (a contest of any kind, as a battle, game, race, action at law, etc.). Also to win the day, the field. (Cf. to win the victory, 6 b.)
Formerly used with a wider range of obj. (e.g., conquest, exploit).
a. 1300. Cursor M., 7793. Dauid had gin him batail kene; Wit godds grace þe feild he wan.
1338. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 24. Tuo & tuenty batailes he wanne þe first ȝere.
c. 1400. Beryn, 1747. The meyne [viz. chessmen] were I-set vp; they gon to pleye fast: Beryn wan the first, þe second, & þe þird.
1474. Caxton, Chesse, II. iii. (1883), 38. The tonges of aduocatos … must be had yf thou wylt wynne thy cause.
1489. Barbour’s Bruce, XI. title, The battale of Bannokburne, strykyne & vonyng be gud kyng Robert the Bruce.
a. 1533. Ld. Berners, Huon, liii. 177. How kynge Iuoryn caused his doughter play at the chesse with Huon,… and how Huon wan the game.
c. 1590. Marlowe, Faustus, 1029, Wks. (1910), 180. Howe they had wonne by prowesse such exploits.
1591. Shaks., 1 Hen. VI., I. vi. 17. ’Tis Ioane, not we, by whom the day is wonne.
1594. R. Carew, Tasso (1881), 15. Conquests he winned.
1600. Holland, Livy, I. ii. 3. The Aborigines and Trojanes wan indeed the field, but lost their Captaine Latinus.
a. 1650. Calderwood, Hist. Kirk (1843), II. 263. ‘Prove that, and wonne the plea!’ said Lethington.
1653. Holcroft, Procopius, Pers. Wars, I. 22. He wanne this battell.
1728. Ramsay, Monk & Miller’s Wife, 233. His courage wan the day.
1781. [see RACE sb.1 10].
1837. Dickens, Pickw., vii. Won the toss—first innings—seven o’clock a.m.
1878. H. Gibbs, Ombre (ed. 2), 26. If either of the adversaries win the game.
1908. [Eliz. Fowler], Betw. Trent & Ancholme, 380. About that time, Waterloo was won.
4. absol. or intr. To overcome one’s adversary, opponent or competitor; to be victorious, gain the victory (now chiefly in sports or games of skill); fig. to prevail.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 4688. Hii worrede norþward & wonne ver & ner.
13[?]. Cursor M., 20004 (Edin.). Werande on þe wrang þai wan.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, XII. 373. In punȝeis is oft hapnyne Quhill for to vyne, and quhill to tyne.
c. 1400. 26 Pol. Poems, xxiv. 288. Haue mercie on me, let mercie wyn!
14[?]. Audelay, Poems (Percy Soc.), Introd. p. ix. Oure faders in Frawns had won beforne.
c. 1440. Alphabet of Tales, cxviii. 83. How … ij men played at þe dyce, and when þe tane or þaim began to lose, he began to … flite with God for þat he wan nott.
1546. J. Heywood, Prov. (1867), 10. He laughth that wynth.
1551. Edw. VI., Jrnl., in Lit. Rem. (Roxb.), II. 312. I lost … at roundes, and wane at rovers.
1597. Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., I. i. 132. The summe of all, Is, that the King hath wonne.
1607. Markham, Cavel., VI. iv. 15. Nor haue I seene anye horse winne, but I haue seene many Horses loose, which haue beene kept with such dyett.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 127. Obstinately bent to win or dye.
1818. Byron, Ch. Har., IV. cxl. He is gone, Ere ceased the inhuman shout which hail’d the wretch who won.
1837. Dickens, Pickw., ii. That [advice] which bystanders invariably give to the smallest boy in a street fight, namely, ‘Go in and win.’
1842. Tennyson, Godiva, 35. The passions of her mind … Made war upon each other for an hour, Till pity won.
1871. Farrar, Witn. Hist., iii. 100. Yet, unaided by any, opposed by all, Christianity won.
1880. W. Day, Racehorse in Training, xviii. 169. If an owner runs two horses in a race, he has a right to declare with which of the two he will win.
1884. Manch. Exam., 21 May, 4/7. The M.C.C. winning by an innings and four runs.
5. trans. To subdue and take possession of; to seize, capture, take (a place). arch. (now associated with 6).
ME. phr. to win to or into one’s hand or will.
a. 1122. O. E. Chron., an. 1070 (Laud MS.). Hi wendon þæt hi sceoldon winnon eall þat land.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 51. Þe king … bilai þe burh forte þat hit [= he it] wan.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 1033. Engelond aþ ibe mid strengþe iwonne. Ibid., 3859. King howel wiþ is poer wan sone peyto Al to king arthures wille. Ibid., 7878. Ar is fader wonne engelond.
a. 1300. Leg. Rood, ii. 219. He ouercom is fon And … al is lond.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 9202. In his time was þe Iuen land Wonnen [Fairf. wonnyn] into þe sarzins hand.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., B. 1305. Nov he þe kyng has conquest & þe kyth wunnen.
13[?]. Cour de L., 1348. The toun of Acres he has wunne.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), IV. 9. Whanne Alisaundre hadde i-wonne alle þe est londes.
c. 1425. Wyntoun, Cron., xx. 36. Sic assawtis þare he maid That neire þe tovne he wonyn [v.r. wonnynge] hade. Ibid., clxx. 4816. Quhen þe wardane … of þat land Had wonnyn gret part till his hand.
c. 1425. Engl. Conq. Irel., lvii. 136. He come ynto Irland, & whan the lond.
1430–40. Lydg., Bochas, IX. 2134. Whan the saide cite was first wonne.
c. 1440. Gesta Rom., lvii. 240 (Harl. MS.). Þey entrid into þe citee, & whonne hit.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, VII. 1007. Ramsay and Graym the turat ȝet has wown. Ibid., X. 959. Schynnoun thai tuk, at Wallace fyrst had woun [ed. 1570 winin].
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, I. vii. 44. Arthur wan alle the north scotland.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. V., 39 b. He that will Fraunce wynne must with Scotlande firste begyn.
1556. Chron. Grey Friars (Camden), 21. Thys yere the towne dech was new cast…. And the towne of Barwyke wanne.
1578. H. Wotton, Courtlie Controv., 145. As men say, the Towne wonne, the Castell yeeldeth.
1603. G. Owen, Pembrokeshire (1892), 47. A greate parte thereof was woon from them by the Englishmen.
1613. J. Saris, Voy. Japan (Hakl. Soc.), 34. There land, which they had wone with there swordes.
1697. Dryden, Æneis, X. 493. On either Hand, These fight to keep, and those to win the Land.
1791. Cowper, Iliad, IV. 495. Should the Greeks … win imperial Troy, The glory shall be his.
1836. Thirlwall, Greece, xxv. III. 387. He advised that they should … endeavour first to win Messana.
1871. Freeman, Norm. Conq., IV. xviii. 155. In the eyes of William it was a means by which Exeter might be won.
b. To seize, capture, take as spoil; to catch (fish, a bird); to capture, take captive (a person). Obs. exc. in euphemistic slang, to steal.
a. 1300. K. Horn, 1144 (Harl.). Ȝef eny fyssh is þer inne Þer of þou shalt wynne.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, VII. 88. Schir Thomas Randale than … the kyngis baner van.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 4803. The souerain … deuidet Tho godes to his gomes … þat hom wan with woundes before And put hom in perell.
1481. Caxton, Reynard, iii. (Arb.), 6. That pudyng was myne ffor I hadde wonne it by nyghte in a mylle.
a. 1533. Ld. Berners, Huon, cxlii. 527. A ryche shyp, the whiche was wonne vpon the sowdans men.
1560. Rolland, Seven Sages (Bann. Club), 1. Thay war sa repleit of all riches Win into weiris be martiall besynes.
1567. Gude & Godlie B. (S.T.S.), 112. Lyke to ane bird taine in ane net,… Sa is our lyfe weill win away.
1596. Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot. (S.T.S.), I. 42. Nocht sa mekle fishe thay with nettis, as with skepis, or long kreilis, win with wickeris in the forme of a hose sa round wouen.
1628. Feltham, Resolves, II. [I.] lxxi. 205. The Spoyles he wanne from Cowards.
a. 1700. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, To Win, to Steal.
1785. Grose, Dict. Vulgar T.
1879. A. Sparke, in Athenæum, 8 Aug., 727/2. Everyone will have heard of ‘strafing’ and also souvenir,’ the latter usually meaning anything stolen, or ‘won.’
† c. fig. To reclaim (land) as for cultivation.
1531–2. Act 23 Hen. VIII., 5 § 1. Marsshe groundes … wonne and made profitable for the greate common welthe of this Realme.
1541. Reg. Mag. Sig. Scot., 554/1. To win and rife out the saidis landis with the Eisly hillis of the samin.
1573–80. Tusser, Husb. (1878), 114. The fen and the quamire, so marrish be kind, And are to be drained, now wine [later edd. win] to thy mind.
† d. Of the sea: To gain on (the land): cf. 10 a.
1639. G. Plattes, Discov. Subterr. Treas., xi. 52. The sea … perpetually winning land in one place, and losing in another.
e. Cards. (a) (fig. from 2) To be of higher value than, to ‘beat’ (another card, hand or suit); also intr. with of (cf. 10 a); (b) to gain possession of, take (a trick).
1680. Cotton, Compl. Gamester, vii. 7. He that can win five Tricks of the nine hath a sure Game. Ibid., x. 83. A Ten wins a Nine if not Trumps.
1778. Hoyle’s Games Impr., 63. A … wins two Tricks…. The first Hand wins of the second.
1892. ‘Cavendish,’ Bézique, 4. The highest card of the suit led wins the trick…. Trumps win other suits.
1910. Dalton, ‘Saturday’ Bridge, 41. This is an undoubted No Trump call for the dealer, although in itself it will not win many tricks.
6. To get, obtain, acquire; esp. to get as something profitable or desired; to gain, procure. a. with concrete (material) obj. Obs. or arch. exc. in specific uses: see 7.
c. 1200. Ormin, 6111. & tuss þu mihht te weorelldþing Wiþþ Godess lefe winnenn. Ibid., 7890. & ȝiff ȝho wass summ wædle wif þatt lamb ne mihhte winnenn.
c. 1220. Bestiary, 411. Ðe rauen is swiðe redi, Weneð ðat ȝe rotieð, And oðre fules hire fallen bi For to winnen fode.
c. 1290. Beket, 1439, in S. Eng. Leg., 147. His men he broȝte In seruise heore mete to wynne þere.
13[?]. Cursor M., 4376 (Gött.). And leuere me es be pouer and lele, Þan falsli to winne catele.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. V. 237. Al þat I wikkedliche won seþþe I wit hade.
c. 1400. Gamelyn, 283 (Corpus MS.). Thus wan Gamely þe Ram and þe Ryng.
1430. Reg. Mag. Sig. Scot., 38/2. The tanehalf of the sayd to be wonnyn fra the sayd Andro be the law.
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., III. xix. 409. If y be riche and haue wunne more good than is necessarie to me.
1526. Tindale, Luke ix. 25. For what shall itt avauntage a man, to wyn the whole worlde yff he loose hym silfe?
1549. Compl. Scot., xx. 172. The inglis men van neuyr na thing at ȝour handis.
1553. Becon, Reliques of Rome (1563), 247 b. Euery winning lefully wonnen in merchaundise.
1563. Homilies, II. Matrimony, ¶ 13. He tylleth it [sc. the ground], and so wynneth fruite thereof.
1616. T. Scot, Philomythie, I 3 b. Till th’one his topsaile fairely doth aduance To win the winde.
1670. W. Walker, Idiomat. Anglo-Lat., 549. I will win the horse, or lose the saddle.
1813. Scott, Rokeby, I. xii. Right English all, they rush’d to blows, With nought to win, and all to lose.
1870. Morris, Earthly Par. (1870), I. II. 556. A certain man Who from being poor great riches wan.
b. with abstract (immaterial) obj., or gen.
Still in regular current use in reference to something gained by merit or the like, as confidence, esteem, fame, favor, honor, love, praise, respect, etc.; also with consent, obedience, etc.; to win the (or a) victory, to be victorious (cf. 3); to win one’s way, to make or find one’s way, ‘get along,’ succeed in getting somewhere (also fig.). In other connections ordinarily replaced by gain or obtain.
c. 1000. Passio S. Marg., in Cockayne, Narratiunculæ (1861), 49. Eadiʓ eart þu … for þon þe þu wunne reste a oþ ende mid halʓum fæmnum.
c. 1200. Ormin, Ded. 313. To winnenn … Att Crist soþ sawle berrhless.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 17497. If we ne soth said, quat suld we win? For-soth nanoþer thing bot sin. Ibid., 20056. Þair beniscun þan bes not wan.
13[?]. Coer de L., 1884. The galyes came unto the citie, And had nigh won entrie.
c. 1340. Richard Rolle of Hampole, Prick of Conscience, 2769. Na mede in heven to wyn.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, iii. (Andreas), 560. Þat þu mycht … of þi cristis lawis blyne, Þat þu mycht oure frendschepe vyne.
a. 1400[?]. Morte Arth., 22. How they whanne … wyrchippis many.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 2316. In armes also if thou konne, Pursue to thou a name hast wonne.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, X. lix. 513. Whanne they wend best to haue wonne worship they loste hit.
a. 1500[?]. Chester Pl., XII. 91. But ever he wynnes the victory.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Edw. IV., 203 b. To destroy the Realme, and wynne the hatred & malice of all the nacion.
1567. Gude & Godlie B. (S.T.S.), 59. He … spolȝeit Sathan, hell and sin, And heuinlie gloir to vs hes win.
1570. Dee, Math. Pref., iv b. To wyn due and common credit.
a. 1586. Sidney, Ps. XXXI. v. O Lord, of thee, lett me still mercy wynne.
1617. Moryson, Itin., II. 166. In defending this fort [they] woon great reputation by their valour.
c. 1620. A. Hume, Brit. Tongue (1865), 18. He snapped me on this hand and he on that, that the doctour had mikle a doe to win me room for a syllogisme.
1754. Gray, Progr. Poesy, 39. In gliding, state she wins her easy way.
a. 1796. Burns, ‘As I stood by yon roofless tower.’ Like fortune’s favours, tint as win.
1853. Dickens, Bleak Ho., xiii. I am glad to have won your confidence.
1866. Geo. Eliot, F. Holt, i. Winning small triumphs in bargains and personal economies.
1888. Bryce, Amer. Commw., lxxiii. II. 596. They failed to win obedience.
1910. A. Lang, in Encycl. Brit., X. 135/1. Fairies naturally won their way into the poetry of the middle ages.
† c. absol. or intr.: in early use esp. to get gain, make profit; spec. in Sc. legal use, in such phrases as able to tine or win, i.e., having means sufficient to aim at profit or risk loss. Obs.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 19574. To win wit-all he wend it bij.
c. 1340. Richard Rolle of Hampole, Prick of Conscience, 1457. Now we wyn, now we tyn.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. I. 153. Þauȝ ȝe ben trewe of tonge and treweliche winne, And eke as chast as a child.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Pard. T., 133. A moral tale yet I yow telle kan Which I am wont to preche for to wynne.
1414. 26 Pol. Poems, xiii. 155. Wiþ fiȝt ȝe wynne, wiþ trete ȝe lese. Ibid. (1421), xviii. 138. Byȝe no thyng to selle and wynne.
c. 1450. Godstow Reg., 159. To wyn or to lese.
1476. Acta Audit. (1839), 47/1. To defend þe said causs of Errour … with ful powere to tyne and wynne.
1609. Skene, Reg. Maj., 53. Be his procuratour constitute be him, in his place, to tine or to wone in the cause.
1699. in Rec. Convent. Burghs Scot. (1880), IV. 281. Ane person that … can tin and win in all ther affairs.
7. In various specific uses. † a. To beget: GET v. 26. Obs.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., B. 112. Hit weren not alle on wyuez sunez, wonen with on fader.
a. 1400–50. Wars Alex., 587. Þe twa Þat I wan on myne oþire wyfe þat I wedd first.
† b. To get for immediate use, procure; hence, contextually, to fetch, bring (cf. 14 c). Obs.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 2852. Þe werwolf went wiȝtly & whan hem mete & drink.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., B. 617. I schal wynne yow, wyȝt, of water a lyttel.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, V. 865. The Scottis wan hors, becaus thair awne couth faill.
c. To obtain (a woman) as a wife or ‘lady’ by action or effort of some kind: usually with implication of gaining her affection and consent (cf. 9).
To win and wear: see WEAR v.1 8 b.
c. 1320. Sir Tristr., 1913. Wiþ þine harp þou wonne hir þat tide.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Anel. & Arc., 100. Ful mychell besynesse had he or þat he myght his lady wynne.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, VIII. xxvi. 312. Sythen I am ladyles I wil wyn thy lady.
1579. Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 91. After al his strife hee [sc. Menelaus] wan but a strumpet.
1639. J. Clarke, Parœm., 40. Faint heart never won faire lady.
1668. Sedley, Mulberry Gard., IV. i. 49. There had been More hope of winning a Widow at her Husbands Funeral, then of any favour for her now.
1789. Burns, To Dr. Blacklock, viii. And let us mind, faint heart ne’er wan A lady fair.
1847. Tennyson, Princess, Prol. 220. Take Lilia, then, for heroine … and be you The Prince to win her!
1885. ‘Mrs. Alexander,’ Valerie’s Fate, v. Valerie, will you let me try to win you?
d. To gain by effort or competition, as a prize or reward, or in gaming or betting, as a wager, etc. Also absol.
To win one’s † shoes, spurs: see SHOE sb. 2 i, SPUR sb.1 3 a.
c. 1320. Sir Tristr., 340. Tristrem wan þat day Of him an hundred pounde.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 449. Iasan … Whan þe Ram wyþ gilden flees.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 172. And wo this wethur shuld wyn bude wirke as I say.
a. 1400–50. Wars Alex., 818. Þis renke & his rounsy, þai reche vp a croune, As gome at has þe garland … Wonn.
c. 1489. Caxton, Sonnes of Aymon, vii. 169. For to assaye our horses for to wynne the pryce that the kyng hath set vpon.
a. 1533. [see WAGER sb.2 2].
1549. Compl. Scot., vi. 64. Iason van the goldin fleice.
1610. B. Jonson, Alch., I. i. He would haue … a familiar To rifle with, at horses, and winne cups.
1621. T. Granger, Expos. Eccles. vii. 7. 166. Our first Parents for an apple lost Paradise, and woon hell.
1645. Vane, Lost Sheepe, 35. Haueing woone the prize in the Pythian games.
1704. Norris, Ideal World, II. xii. 484. A man would be ridiculous that should go to prove by mere reason, that such a one won the plate at a horse-race.
1835. Dickens, Sk. Boz, Mr. Watkins Tottle, i. Frank took dummy; and I won sixpence.
1848. Thackeray, Van. Fair, lxiv. The Rev. Mr. Muff,… of whom she won large sums at écarté.
1885. Law Rep., Weekly Notes 145/2. The defendant … having won on those bets received the winnings from the persons with whom he had betted.
e. To get by labor, to earn (now dial.); † to get as profit, to gain (obs.). Also absol.
c. 1200. Ormin, 10175. Þeȝȝ [sc. publicans] … wunnenn mikell to þe king, & mare till hemm sellfenn.
1340–70. Alex. & Dind., 450. Wiþ us schineþ euery schalk in schippus for to saile, For to winne on þe watur wordliche fode.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Prol., 715. He moste preche and wel affile his tonge To wynne siluer.
1429. Rolls of Parlt., IV. 360/2. Yai wil … receive for paiement … nobles,… ye which … yai leede … into oyer straunge Cuntrees, where hit is chaunged to yair encresce, and forged into oyer coygnes, so yat yai wynne in ye alay of ech noble xx d.
a. 1500. Ratis Raving, 520. The gudis þat he has with his trew labore wynynge.
1530. in Maitl. Club Misc., II. 103. Honest and laborius personis abill to wyne thar liffing.
1531. Dial. on Laws of Eng., II. xxxix. 79. If a preest haue wonne moche by sayenge of masse.
c. 1620. Z. Boyd, Zion’s Flowers (1855), 54. Win little and win oft … Makes merchands rich.
1623. J. Taylor (Water P.), New Discov., A 5. I am a Fisherman Who many yeares my liuing thus haue wan.
1724. Ramsay, Tea-t. Misc. (1733), I. 87. Wi’ cauk and keel I’ll win your bread.
1819. Scott, Noble Moringer, xxii. Of him I held the little mill which wins me living free. Ibid. (1823), Quentin D., xiv. Every one wins his bread in this country.
1893. Snowden, Tales Yorksh. Wolds, 188. Then Aw can win summat, cannot Aw?
f. To get, gather (crops or other produce); to gather in, harvest. Now dial.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, X. 189. Syndri cornys that thai bair Woxe rype to wyn to mannys fude. Ibid., 193. Thai of the peill had vonnyn hay. Ibid., 219. To vyn thair harvist.
1491. Acta Dom. Conc. (1839), 205/2. The cornez … sall be led and wonnyne … and stakkit.
15[?]. Battle of Otterburn, i. Yt fell abowght the Lamasse tyde, Whan husbondes wynnes ther haye.
1549. D. Monro, Descr. W. Isles (1773), 46. The place quhar he winnes his peitts this zier, ther he sawis his corne the next zeire.
1565. Reg. Privy Council Scot., I. 402. The cornis … ar nocht sa weill win as neid wer.
a. 1578. Lindesay (Pitscottie), Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.), I. 30. [They] micht nocht saw nor wine thair cornis.
1683. J. Reid, Scots Gard’ner (1907), 137. Peas … When ripe, you may easily win some for seed.
a. 1791. Grose, Olio (1792), 110. W. He is gone to the field to his workmen. C. Hey. W. Just so; to try to win his hay.
1834. Southey, Doctor, vi. (1848), 20. If they had fine weather for winning their hay or shearing their corn, they thanked God for it.
1891. A. Lang, Angling Sk., 101. On a hillside … the countryfolk were winning their hay.
g. To get or extract (coal, stone, or other mineral) from the mine, pit or quarry; also, to sink a shaft or make an excavation so as to reach (a seam of coal or vein of ore) and prepare it for working, as by drainage, etc. (cf. 11). See also WINNING vbl. sb. 5, 5 b.
1447. in Reg. Mag. Sig. Scot. 1451, 106/1. With lefe … for to wyn colis and stanis within the saide landis.
1456–70. in Acts Parlt. Scot. (1875), XII. 27/2. Becaus of his colys and fuell … to be woung in tyme of ȝeir.
1497. Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot., I. 380. The man that ȝeid to vesy to se gif he could wyn sclait.
1509. Reg. Privy Seal Scot., I. 284/1. Fredome to wyn and fyne lede ure within the ilis.
1614. in Cochran-Patrick, Early Rec. Mining Scot. (1878), 163. The minerallis … to be wroght and wynn at the saidis mynes.
1630. Burgh Rec. Glasgow (1876), I. 374. To won alsmony lymstanes in the lyme craig at the Channown mos as he can. Ibid. (1648), II. 132. Alsmanie stones to be … win as may serve the building of the midwall. Ibid., 151. To the end alse manie staines may be wind furthe therof as [etc.].
1708. J. C., Compl. Collier (1845), 10. You tell me you have hopes to win a Colliery in my grounds.
1725. Rep. MSS. Dk. Portland, VI. (Hist. MSS. Comm., 1901), 106. When they have sunk it [sc. the pit] till they come at the bed of coals, they are then said to have won the colliery.
1789. J. Williams, Min. Kingd., I. 168. Coals are so far wasted near water carriage in the neighbourhood of Newcastle, that they are become already very difficult and expensive to winn.
1839. Ure, Dict. Arts, 968. Of fitting or winning a coal-field.
1869. Law Rep., Ch. App., V. 111. I conceive that coal is won when it is put in a state in which continuous working can go forward in the ordinary way.
1885. Law Times, LXXIX. 153/3. The trustees … had power to win the minerals lying under their land.
1886. J. Barrowman, Sc. Mining Terms, 73. A seam is said to be won when a pit is sunk, or a mine driven to it, and the pit or mine is said to win all to the rise of the level.
† h. To gain (ground) upon (of); to gain (time).
c. 1400. Beryn, 2384. Beryn … gan to turn a-side, on-to þe see stronde, And the cripill aftir, & wan oppon hym londe.
c. 1435. Torr. Portugal, 656. Thus erthe on hym he wane.
1471. Caxton, Recuyell (Sommer), 230. We muste nedes wynne vpon Amphitrion on this way a nyght and a day.
1577. Holinshed, Chron., I. 131/1. They dayly wanne grounde vpon the Brytons.
1606. Shaks., Ant. & Cl., II. iv. 9. Your way is shorter,… you’le win two dayes vpon me. Ibid., Cymb., III. iv. 112. But to win time To loose so bad employment, in the which I haue consider’d of a course.
1717. Pope, Iliad, X. 409. Yet let him pass, and win a little Space.
† 8. To regain, recover (something lost); hence, to make up for (loss, waste); to rescue, deliver; in religious use, to redeem: often with again. Obs.
c. 1220. Bestiary, 768. Ful wel he taunede his luue to man Wan he ðurȝ holi spel him wan.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. V. 25. He bad wastors go worche what þei best couþe, And wynne þat þei wasteden [1377 B. V. 25 wynnen his wastyng].
1375. Barbour, Bruce, II. 111. Throw hym I trow my land to wyn, Magre the Clyffurd and his kyn.
c. 1380. in Pol. Poems (Rolls), I. 264. By God, that al this world wan.
c. 1400. Rule St. Benet (verse), 1306. How a hird-man A febil schepe warest & wane.
c. 1440. York Myst., xi. 405. Now ar we wonne fra waa, and saued oute of þe see.
1450–1530. Myrr. Our Ladye, II. 253. Saye we endelesse thankes to god that hathe wonne vs ageyne.
a. 1533. Ld. Berners, Gold. Bk. M. Aurel. (1546), F vij. The losse of the father by euyll children, is wonne by vertuouse sonnes in lawe.
1562. Child-Marriages, 14. To wyne all the tenement together againe.
1567. Gude & Godlie B. (S.T.S.), 18. Giue thow thy self thy saull culd win, In vaine I deit for thy sin. Ibid., 39. He was loste, and now is win.
1633. P. Fletcher, Purple Isl., V. lxi. Thus Orpheus wanne his lost Eurydice.
9. To overcome the unwillingness or indifference of; with various shades of meaning: to attract, allure, entice; to prevail upon, persuade, induce; to gain the affection or allegiance of; to bring over to one’s side, party, or cause, to convert. Also absol. or intr. (see also WINNING ppl. a. 3).
Some of the applications are now more usual with the constructions illustrated in b.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter vii. 2. Þe deuel þat sekis how he myght wynn mennys saule.
c. 1400. Cursor M., 28000 (Cott. Galba). If þou … wowid hir with wordes sleghe,… And þar-thurgh so has won hir will.
1474. Caxton, Chesse, II. iv. (1883), 51. They wynne wyth yeftes the hertes of the goddes and of men.
1535. Coverdale, Prov. xi. 30. A wyse man also wynneth mens soules.
1555. Eden, Decades (Arb.), 141. Meanyng hereby too woonne the myndes of the other kynges.
1567. Jewel, Def. Apol., 417. The Embassadoure of so Noble a Common Wealthe, was soone, and easily, and willingly woonne.
1576. T. Fortescue, Forest of Hist. (ed. 2), 141. He wun the harts of the Citisens.
1589. in Puttenham, Engl. Poesie, III. xix. (Arb.), 217. His wealth wan many friends.
1591. Shaks., Two Gent., III. i. 89. Win her with gifts, if she respect not words.
1629. Sir W. Mure, True Crucif., 592. Hee … With this soft speech … Doth wound, not wonne, the traytor’s heart of stone.
1653. Austen, Fruit Trees, I. (1657), 31. The worst temper of minds are wonne.
1698. Fryer, Acc. E. India & P., 269. How far … a Graceful Mein and Innocent Discourse, wins among more refined Christians.
1784. Cowper, Task, IV. 694. Slighted as it is,… the country wins me still.
1871. Tennyson, Last Tourn., 703. For courtesy wins woman all as well As valour may.
1874. Longf., Hanging of Crane, iii. The ways that win, the arts that please.
1914. Tollinton, Clement of Alex., I. vii. 236. The missionary goes to win and to save souls.
b. with adv. or prep. (away, over; from, to, etc.).
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 6606. Ȝyf þou to drunkenes wldest hym wynne.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xv. (Barnabas), 123. Paule to þe treutht wonnyn was.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Doctor’s T., 132. Þat he by slyghte The mayden to his purpos wynne myghte.
c. 1450. in Aungier, Syon (1840), 269. The presidente … in as moche as in her is … owethe to wynne al to God.
1542. Udall, in Lett. Lit. Men (Camden), 5. Thei have thereby woonne to goodnes innumerable persons.
1594. in Maitl. Club Misc., I. 67. That the said ladie may be winn to God.
1603. Daniel, Def. Ryme, Pref. A 2. To hold him from being wonne from vs.
1632. Sanderson, Serm., Ad Pop., iv. 407. If our Inclinations cannot be wonne over to that course.
1637. Gillespie, Eng.-Pop. Cerem., III. viii. 187. He is already winne to repentance.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., I. iii. 11. The Priests of Elder time … winning their credulities unto the literall and downe-right adorement of Cats, Lizards, and Beetles.
1662. Extr. St. Papers rel. Friends, Ser. II. (1911), 151. All the Acts of a most gracious Prince … can not winne them … from these … rebellious Courses.
1761. Mrs. F. Sheridan, Sidney Bidulph, II. 336. She has won me to her party.
1796–7. Jane Austen, Pride & Prej., xi. She could not win him, however, to any conversation.
1821. Scott, Kenilw., xxiv. She can sing and play o’ the lute, would win the fish out o’ the stream.
1882. J. H. Blunt. Ref. Ch. Eng., II. 205. To win her over to an ultramontane policy.
c. with to and inf. arch.
1540. Palsgr., Acolastus, II. ii. I iv b. How moch Philautus … hath wonne me holely … to be his.
1591. Shaks., Two Gent., III. i. 67. Cannot your Grace win her to fancie him?
1596. Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot. (S.T.S.), I. 323. Thay conspyre, and winnis him with money quyetlie to putt doune the king.
1640. T. Carew, Poems, Disdain returned, iii. No teares, Celia, now shall win, My resolv’d heart, to returne.
1664. in Verney Mem. (1907), II. 210. So much fre kindnes as wold winn any creture to admier it.
1725. Pope, Odyss., XII. 53. Unblest the man, whom music wins to stay Nigh the curst shore.
1812. J. Wilson, Isle of Palms, II. 17. Gleam’st thou, as if delighted with the strain, And won by it the pious bark to keep In joy for ever?
10. intr. with upon, on, † of. † a. To gain an advantage over, get the better of; to gain or encroach upon; rarely, to overcome, subdue. Obs.
c. 1440. Pallad. on Husb., III. 4. As Luna gynneth wexe & wynne Vppon the nyght.
1590. in Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., Var. Coll., IV. 284. Where the sea dailie wynnethe of the land againste this Towne.
c. 1600. Shaks., Sonn., lxiv. 7. When I haue seene the hungry Ocean gaine Aduantage on the Kingdome of the shoare, And the firme soile win of the watry maine. Ibid. (1607), Cor., I. i. 223. The rabble … will in time Win vpon power. Ibid. (1611), Cymb., I. i. 121. So in our trifles I still winne of you.
1613. J. Hayward, Lives 3 Normans, 21. Henry … did many other times … inuade his Countrey; sometimes with purpose to winne vpon him, and sometimes to keepe him from winning vpon others.
1685. Dryden, Thren. August., iv. Thus, at half Ebb, a rowling Sea Returns, and wins upon the shoar.
1754. Shebbeare, Matrimony (1766), II. 33. This young Gentleman used every Art … to win on the Resentment which the Baronet had entertained against him.
1791. Mrs. Radcliffe, Rom. Forest (1820), I. 121. So much did passion win upon her judgement, by time and indulgence.
b. To gain influence over, to prevail with (often implying ‘to gain increasing influence over, to prevail more and more with’); to gain the favor or engage the affections of (esp. gradually or increasingly). Also with affection, esteem, regard, or the like as obj.
1601. B. Jonson, Poetaster, To Rdr. 87. I at last … Thought, I would try, if shame could winne vpon ’hem.
a. 1616. Beaum. & Fletcher, Cust. Country, II. i. The courage they exprest … And their contempt of death wan more upon me Than all they did.
a. 1665. Digby, Priv. Mem. (1827), 205. Her excessive beauty and gracefulness did so win upon his senses.
1749. Fielding, Tom Jones, XIV. viii. By the Force of the true Catholic Faith, St. Anthony won upon the Fishes.
1755. J. Shebbeare, Lydia (1769), I. 438. The pleasing countenance of Lydia won on this woman’s opinion.
1796. Coleridge, Lett. to T. Poole, 24 Sept. Charles Lloyd wins upon me hourly.
1842. Dickens, Amer. Notes, xviii. I never was so won upon, as by this class.
1884. Church, Bacon, vi. 124. He had won greatly on the confidence of the King.
† c. To prevail upon (to do something). Obs.
1674. N. Fairfax, Bulk & Selv., 183. As some of the uppermost seat of Philosophers … have themselves thought, and wonne upon others to think so too.
1698. Fryer, Acc. E. India & P., 217. I was easily won upon to embark on the Scipio African.
1802. H. Martin, Helen of Glenross, II. 217. Who shall I win upon to aid me in my future views?
11. trans. To reach, attain, arrive at: = GAIN v.2 7; occas. to get at, get hold of (an object); to overtake (a person); to be in time for, ‘catch.’ arch.
1471. Caxton, Recuyell (Sommer), 211. Yf he had not wonne a roche vpon whiche he gate vp with grete payne.
c. 1480. Henryson, Fox, Wolf & Cadger, 137. Bot all for nocht, he wan his hoill that day.
1517. Torkington, Pilgr. (1884), 61. The wynde enforcyd So myche…, that our governor Saw it was not possible for to wyne the porte.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., VI. i. 23. But Calidore did follow him so fast, That euen in the Porch he him did win.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Past., VIII. 56. Then scarce the bending Branches I coul’d win [orig. Iam fragilis poteram ab terra contingere ramos].
1768. Ross, Helenore, I. 58. Yet wi’ what pith she had, she takes the gate, An’ wan the burn.
1808. Scott, Marm., III. i. The stony path … By which the naked peak they wan.
1821. Hodgson, in Raine, Mem. (1857), I. 339. Having got your letter late in the day, I am compelled to be brief to win the post.
1842. Macaulay, Lays, Horatius, xxvi. And if they once may win the bridge, What hope to save the town?
1848. Rossetti, Poems, Last Confess., 253. As when a bird flies low Between the water and the willow-leaves, And the shade quivers till he wins the light.
1892. Rider Haggard, Nada, xxv. The Halakazi were worsted in the field, but many lived to win the great cave.
† b. To get across, to cross; to get through, accomplish. Obs. rare.
1425. Lydg., De Guil. Pilgr., 903. To chyldre that be yonge of age, And offter han thys ryver wonne Than folk that ben on age ronne.
1573–80. Tusser, Husb. (1878), 124. Thry fallowing won, Get compassing don.
a. 1585. Montgomerie, Cherrie & Slae, 645. Fra we get our voyage wun.
12. intr. To make or find one’s way; also in weakened sense, to arrive at or come to some place, etc.; in early use often a mere synonym of come’ or ‘go’: = GET v. 31. With various preps. and advs., sometimes in specialized senses: cf. corresponding uses of get s.v. GET v. VI, VII. Formerly chiefly Sc. and n. dial.
This use depends on that of ON. vinna.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 996. A firin wall þar es a-bute, Mai nan win in þat es wit-oute. Ibid., 2499. Þe fiue gaue bak to wine a-way. Ibid., 10592. Quils þai locked þam biside, Sco was won to þe heist stride.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 8457. Vneþes to Gloucestre y wan.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., B. 1777. Þay … Lyfte laddres … & vpon lofte wonen.
13[?]. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 461. Neuermore þen þay wyste fram queþen he was wonnen.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, XV. 221. [Thai] slow all that thai mycht to vyn.
a. 1400–50. Wars Alex., 3438. Sen I wan in-to þe werld.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 649. Bes wakond and warly; wyn to my chamber.
c. 1420. Liber Cocorum (1862), 19. And cover hit þat no hete oute wynne.
c. 1450. Cov. Myst., Purification, 43. To jherusalem flast now wynne.
c. 1475. Rauf Coilȝear, 625. Say thow art not worthy to Wymond to win.
1508. Kennedie, Flyting w. Dunbar, 433. Thou may not pas Mount Barnard for wild bestis, Nor wyn throw Mount Scarpre for the snawe.
1541. Wyatt, Declar., Wks. 1816, II. 281. This, me-thought, was so gladsome unto me to win to the King … that all my policy … was clean forgotten with me.
1585. Reg. Privy Council Scot., Ser. I. III. 743. He at last wan to his said hous.
1643. in Boyd, Zion’s Flowers (1855), App. 41/2. That none win to the Sessions loft till the Sessioners be placed.
1652. Earl Monm., trans. Bentivoglio’s Hist. Relat., 10. Full of channels and rivers, and very hard to be wonn into.
1717. Wodrow, Corr. (1843), II. 262. I hope to win off beginning of next week.
1724. E. Erskine, Serm., Wks. (1791), 120. Christ is in heaven, how shall I win at him?
1813. Byron, Bride Abydos, II. xxv. Had Selim won … To where the strand and billows met.
1826. Scott, Antiq., xv. And how am I to win hame? Ibid. (1816), Old Mort., xl. Whiles the tear wan into my e’e.
c. 1830. Hogg, Tales & Sk. (1837), III. 205. I canna won sae weel through the snaw.
1865. G. Macdonald, Alec Forbes, xii. Whan I was na bigger than you, Annie, I could win oot at a less hole than that.
1892. Kipling, Barrack-room Ballads, East & West, 23. The Colonel’s son to the Fort has won.
1893. Stevenson, Catriona, xv. When we won in by the pier.
1923. Edith Thompson, Hist. Eng., xlvi. 437. The Germans never won through to the Channel ports.
(b) To win up: to get up on one’s feet, to rise; to get on horseback, mount. So to win upon.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 15760. Þai fell þaim don vn-to þe grund,… all vp þai siþen wan.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, X. 435. His menȝhe all War wonnyn vp apon the wall.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 1165. Iason … and Ioly knightes moo,… Wonen vp wynly vppon wale horses. Ibid., 13938. Whan he wackont of wo, he wan vpo fote.
c. 1460. Towneley Myst., xxiii. 114. And wyn apon youre palfray sone.
c. 1802. Jellen Grame, in Child, Ballads, II. 303/2. ‘Win up, mny bonny boy,’ he says, ‘As quick as e’er you may.’
1868. Morris, Earthly Par. (1870), I. I. 41. And now we set ourselves in haste to win Up to that mountain’s top.
1893. Stevenson, Catriona, xxx. Just let me win upon my horse!
b. absol. without prep. or adv.: To get to the place implied (Sc. and dial.); to come, go.
c. 1430. Syr Tryam., 216. Bettyr hyt ys … Owt of yowre londe sche be flemyd … And faste ye schalle hur comawnde to wynne.
a. 1670. Spalding, Troub. Chas. I. (Bann. Club), I. 99. The marquess wrote back his excuse, saying, he could not win.
1894. P. H. Hunter, James Inwick, v. 70. There was a by-ordinar congregation that day; a’body that could win was there.
† c. In static sense: To ‘come,’ reach. Obs.
a. 1578. Lindesay (Pitscottie), Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.), I. 258. Reid ȝallow hair … quhilk wan doune to his schoulderis.
d. In reference to a desired end, a condition, experience, proceeding, etc.: with various preps. and advs., often in specialized senses: GET v. 31 b and various uses in VI and VII (see also below). Formerly chiefly Sc. and n. dial.
Win by … (BY prep. 16 b), to escape, avoid. † Win of eld, to ‘come of age.’ Win out or through, to come out successfully, succeed in attaining one’s end. Win to, to begin eating, ‘set to,’ ‘fall to’ (= GET v. 69).
a. 1300. Cursor M., 25363. Oft þe men þat er rightwis Thoru faanding win þai to þair pris.
c. 1300. Havelok, 174. Til þat she mowe winan of helde.
13[?]. Northern Passion (1913), I. 153/330*. He hopid forto win fra wogh.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 9212. He his wit cast, For to wyn to his will.
a. 1400–50. Wars Alex., 3986. Quen he wan to wax…, Thre cubettis fra þe croune doun his cors had a lenghte.
c. 1440. Pallad. on Husb., V. 67. The growyng of hem into oon heed wole wynne.
a. 1585. Montgomerie, Cherrie & Slae, 280. Ay houping, throu louping, To win to liberty.
c. 1635. Rutherford, Lett., to Marion McKnaught, III. xxiv. (1675), 190. I look not to win away to my home, without wounds and blood.
1644. Baillie, Lett. (1841), II. 211. There is so much matter yet before us, as we cannot winn through for a long time after our common pace.
1709. M. Bruce, Soul Confirm., 15. Soul-confirmation … is not easilie wone at,… you that keeps only your old Job-troot,… you will not wone at Soul-confirmation.
1721. Ramsay, Horace to Virgil, 21. The Man wha cou’d sic Rubs win o’er.
1816. Scott, Old Mort., xiv. We got some water-broo and bannocks; and mony a weary grace they said,… or they wad let me win to. Ibid., xxxv. The job is how we are to win by hanging.
a. 1850. Rossetti, Dante & Circle, I. (1874), 94. The anguish … that we must bow Beneath, until we win out of this life.
1919. Max Beerbohm, Seven Men, 103. I wish he could have won out, as I did, into a great and lasting felicity.
e. with adj. as compl.: = GET v. 33.
1886. R. F. Burton, Arab. Nts. (abr. ed.), I. 82, note. He labours to win free from every form and observance.
1902. R. Barr, in London Mag., June, 452/2. Smiling to see him struggle when he thought he could win clear.
13. intr. with to and inf.: To succeed in doing (what is denoted by the vb.); to contrive, manage to do something. Now only Sc. and dial.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 26816. For mai naman wit quem to winn To serue at ans lauerds tuin.
c. 1300. K. Horn, 1112 (Laud). Myȝte he nowt wynne For to come þer inne.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 3145. O nowise may we wyn þat woman to gete.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 121 b/2. That yu mayst … wynne to spare the tormentes that ben yet to come.
a. 1600. Montgomerie, Misc. Poems, xxvii. 32. Thee to imbrace once, God! if I micht win!
c. 1655. Roxb. Ball. (1886), VI. 209. The Repulsive Maid, Who Once took a young-man, but now cannot win To open the door, and let him come in.
1730. T. Boston, in Morrison, Mem. (1899), 137. I am habitually cast down, and cannot win to get my heart lifted up in the ways of the Lord.
1893. Stevenson, Catriona, xv. As sune as I can win to stand on my twa feet we’ll be aff this craig o’ Sawtan.
14. trans. with prep. or adv. of place: a. To succeed in bringing, putting, etc.: = GET v. 27 a. Obs. or arch.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 8219. Sua depe þair rote þai samen kest, Þat moght þam naman þeþen win.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 94. Þere walked he a-boute þe walles to winne in siȝt.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Anel. & Arc., 20. And do that I my shippe to haven wynne.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, XI. 4772. Þai … Robbit the Riches … And wonnyn it wightly the wallis withoute.
c. 1400. Ywaine & Gaw., 1803. Bot yit his clathes on he wan.
14[?]. Tundale’s Vis., 939. Whan the vermyn wold have owt crepon At the holys that thei made opon Thei myght not wyn owt hor taylys.
1604. E. G[rimstone], D’Acosta’s Hist. Indies, III. x. 152. They gave over the enterprize to win the red sea into Nile.
a. 1636. Marmion, Antiquary, III. i. That I should owe my life to her! which way, I wonder? something depends on this, I must win out.
1825. Scott, Betrothed, ix. Her kind attendant … tried softly to win the spear from her lady’s grasp.
1904. Daily Chron., 3 Nov., 3/3. His sweet and level-headed wile wins him through his difficulties.
† b. To put, set, take (expressing merely the act, without implication, as in a, of overcoming difficulty or hindrance). Win out, to take or draw out, extract. Win up, (a) to open (a door or gate); (b) to take up, pick up, lift. Obs.
13[?]. Sir Beues (A.), 4364. ln haste þe dore he gan vp winne.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. VI. 92. To wynne vp þe wiket-ȝat þat þe wey schutte.
a. 1400–50. Wars Alex., 837. Þan Alexander at þis knyȝt angirs vnfaire, Wynnes him vp a wardrere.
c. 1400. Rowland & O., 463. Rowlande owte his swerde wanne.
1515. Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot., V. 24. To ane masone of the lard of Sefeildis quhilk wan the alloring to the said place of Inchegarvy, xxs.
† c. To bring, take, move (a person somewhere).
13[?]. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 831. Alle hasped in his heȝ wede to halle þay hym wonnen.
c. 1420. Avow. Arth., xxxviii. Ȝe wynnun him noȝte owte of his way.
† d. refl. To betake oneself: = 12 (Cf. GET v. 27 b.) Obs.
13[?]. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 402. I schal ware alle my wyt to wynne me þeder.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 1138. [We] Wyn vs to the wallis, wacche þere vndur.
15. Comb. in sense ‘one who or that which wins…,’ as win-all, win-penny.
1580. Hollyband, Treas. Fr. Tong, Gaigne-denier, a porter, a winne-penny.
1639. Fuller, Holy War, II. xlvi. 107. One the winne-all, another the lose-all.
