v. Obs. Forms: 1 ʓiʓeʓnian, 3 aȝeine, ȝene, 4 ȝeyne, ȝayne. [OE. (Northumb.) ʓiʓeʓnian, *onʓeʓnian, corresp. to OHG. gaganan, gagenan, ON. gegna (whence GAIN v.1), f. ʓeʓn-, onʓeʓn against (see AGAIN adv.).]
1. trans. To meet, encounter, oppose.
a. 1000. Rit. Dunelm. (Surtees), 45/23. [Justitia] obviabit illi quasi mater honorificata, [soðfæstnis] ʓiʓeʓnað him svoelce moder arwyrðe.
c. 1205. Lay., 17854. He … aȝeineden þere uerde þe icumen wes to ærde.
a. 1250. Owl & Night., 845. Abid abid me shal þe ȝene [v.r. yene].
13[?]. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 1724. Loude he was ȝayned, with ȝarande speche.
2. intr. To avail: = GAIN v.1 1.
c. 1325. Minor Poems fr. Vernon MS., 661. For heer but ȝif we make vs euene, Þer may no miht ne ȝiftes ȝeyne.
