What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole
world, and lose his own soul? --Matt. xvi.
26.
To gain dominion, or to keep it gained. --Milton.
For fame with toil we gain, but lose with ease.
--Pope.
2. To come off winner or victor in; to be successful in; to
obtain by competition; as, to gain a battle; to gain a
case at law; to gain a prize.
3. To draw into any interest or party; to win to one's side;
to conciliate.
If he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
--Matt. xviii.
15.
To gratify the queen, and gained the court.
--Dryden.
4. To reach; to attain to; to arrive at; as, to gain the top
of a mountain; to gain a good harbor.
Forded Usk and gained the wood. --Tennyson.
5. To get, incur, or receive, as loss, harm, or damage. [Obs.
or Ironical]
Ye should . . . not have loosed from Crete, and to
have gained this harm and loss. --Acts xxvii.
21.
{Gained day}, the calendar day gained in sailing eastward
around the earth.
{To gain ground}, to make progress; to advance in any
undertaking; to prevail; to acquire strength or extent.
{To gain over}, to draw to one's party or interest; to win
over.
{To gain the wind} (Naut.), to reach the windward side of
another ship.
Syn: To obtain; acquire; get; procure; win; earn; attain;
achieve.
Usage: See {Obtain}. -- {To Gain}, {Win}. Gain implies only
that we get something by exertion; win, that we do it
in competition with others. A person gains knowledge,
or gains a prize, simply by striving for it; he wins a
victory, or wins a prize, by taking it in a struggle
with others.