[f. WIN v.1 + -ING2.] That wins, in various senses.
† 1. Gaining, or by which one gains, money or wealth; profitable, lucrative. Obs.
1435. Misyn, Fire of Love, I. xi. 24. Full hard treuly it is a wynnynge craft or office to haue & not to be couetus.
1530. Palsgr., 329/2. Wynnyng, gaynyng, questueux.
2. Gaining, or resulting in, victory or superiority in a contest or competition; victorious. Winning hazard: see HAZARD sb. 7 b. Winning stroke, a stroke that gains a point in a game, or one by which the game is won.
1592. Shaks., Rom. & Jul., III. ii. 12. Learne me how to loose a winning match.
1609. Holland, Amm. Marcell., 290. Contemning that Emperour who everie where in civile warre went away on the winning hand.
1822. Scott, Nigel, Introd. Epist. I am not displeased to find the game a winning one.
1855. Poultry Chron., II. 486. Neither should I have given the first place to the winning Dorking cock.
1860. Löwenthal, Morphy’s Games Chess, 56. The winning move.
1884. Marshall’s Tennis Cuts, 114. In playing against a fine player, it is imperative to go for a winning-stroke whenever there is a fair opening.
3. Persuasive (now rare or obs.); alluring, attractive, ‘taking.’ † Also advb., winningly.
1596. Edward III., I. ii. 140. What needs a tongue to such a speaking eie, That more perswads then winning Oratorie?
c. 1620. Fletcher, False One, III. ii. Eyes that are the winningst Orators.
1667. Milton, P. L., IV. 479. Less faire, Less winning soft, less amiable milde.
1700. T. Brown, Amusem. Ser. & Com., Wks. 1720, III. 54. The Winning Air, the Bewitching Glance, the Amorous Smirk.
1713. Addison, Cato, I. iv. While winning Mildness and attractive Smiles Dwell in her Looks.
1809. Malkin, Gil Blas, VII. xii. ¶ 6. You have very winning ways with you; you make me do just whatever you please.
1880. ‘Mark Twain,’ Tramp Abr., xviii. There is a friendly something about the German character which is very winning.
Hence (in sense 3) Winningly adv., Winningness.
1663. Cowley, Cutter Colman St., IV. i. I know thou canst speak *winningly.
1803. Jane Austen, Susan, vi. (1879), 213. Her voice and manner winningly mild.
1727. Bailey, vol. II., Insinuatingness … insinuating Nature,… *Winningness.
1796. Mme. D’Arblay, Camilla, I. ii. I think Camilla’s [face] so much prettier; I mean in point of winningness.
1864. Pusey, Daniel, viii. 541. Error has no intrinsic winningness for man.
