Win \Win\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Won, Obs. Wan; p. pr. & vb.
n. Winning.]
[OE. winnen, AS. winnan to strive, labor,
fight, endure; akin to OFries. winna, OS. winnan, D. winnen
to win, gain, G. gewinnen, OHG. winnan to strive, struggle,
Icel. vinna to labor, suffer, win, Dan. vinde to win, Sw.
vinna, Goth. winnan to suffer, Skr. van to wish, get, gain,
conquer. [root]138. Cf. Venerate, Winsome, Wish,
Wont, a.]
1. To gain by superiority in competition or contest; to
obtain by victory over competitors or rivals; as, to win
the prize in a gate; to win money; to win a battle, or to
win a country. ``This city for to win.'' --Chaucer. ``Who
thus shall Canaan win.'' --Milton.
Thy well-breathed horse Impels the flying car, and
wins the course. --Dryden.
2. To allure to kindness; to bring to compliance; to gain or
obtain, as by solicitation or courtship.
Thy virtue wan me; with virtue preserve me. --Sir P.
Sidney.
She is a woman; therefore to be won. --Shak.
3. To gain over to one's side or party; to obtain the favor,
friendship, or support of; to render friendly or
approving; as, to win an enemy; to win a jury.
4. To come to by toil or effort; to reach; to overtake.
[Archaic]
Even in the porch he him did win. --Spenser.
And when the stony path began, By which the naked
peak they wan, Up flew the snowy ptarmigan. --Sir W.
Scott.
5. (Mining) To extract, as ore or coal. --Raymond.
Syn: To gain; get; procure; earn. See Gain.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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