Gain

n. [ Cf. W. gan a mortise. ] (Arch.) A square or beveled notch cut out of a girder, binding joist, or other timber which supports a floor beam, so as to receive the end of the floor beam. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ OE. gein, gain, good, near, quick; cf. Icel. gegn ready, serviceable, and gegn, adv., against, opposite. Cf. Again. ] Convenient; suitable; direct; near; handy; dexterous; easy; profitable; cheap; respectable. [ Obs. or Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. gain, gein, ga&yogh_;hen, gain, advantage, Icel. gagn; akin to Sw. gagn, Dan. gavn, cf. Goth. gageigan to gain. The word was prob. influenced by F. gain gain, OF. gaain. Cf. Gain, v. t. ] 1. That which is gained, obtained, or acquired, as increase, profit, advantage, or benefit; -- opposed to loss. [ 1913 Webster ]

But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Phil. iii. 7. [ 1913 Webster ]

Godliness with contentment is great gain. 1 Tim. vi. 6. [ 1913 Webster ]

Every one shall share in the gains. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The obtaining or amassing of profit or valuable possessions; acquisition; accumulation. “The lust of gain.” Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To have or receive advantage or profit; to acquire gain; to grow rich; to advance in interest, health, or happiness; to make progress; as, the sick man gains daily. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbors by extortion. Ezek. xxii. 12. [ 1913 Webster ]

Gaining twist, in rifled firearms, a twist of the grooves, which increases regularly from the breech to the muzzle.
To gain on or
To gain upon. (a) To encroach on; as, the ocean gains on the land. (b) To obtain influence with. (c) To win ground upon; to move faster than, as in a race or contest. (d) To get the better of; to have the advantage of. [ 1913 Webster ] The English have not only gained upon the Venetians in the Levant, but have their cloth in Venice itself. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

My good behavior had so far gained on the emperor, that I began to conceive hopes of liberty. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ CF. F. gagnable. See Gain, v. t. ] Capable of being obtained or reached. Sherwood. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. gaignage pasturage, crop, F. gaignage pasturage. See Gain, v. t. ] (O. Eng. Law) (a) The horses, oxen, plows, wains or wagons and implements for carrying on tillage. (b) The profit made by tillage; also, the land itself. Bouvier. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who gains. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Profitable; advantageous; lucrative. “A gainful speculation.” Macaulay. -- Gain"ful*ly, adv. -- Gain"ful*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]