win English · revision 2311

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 725, Beowulf (Old English winnan)|origins=gem-pro *wennanan}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /wɪn/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|winnen]], [[inh|ang|winnan|t=to labour, struggle, fight]], merged with [[m|ang|gewinnan|t=to gain by struggle, conquer]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) both from [[gem-pro|*wennanan|t=to seek to gain]].^(Etymonline) Etymonline, Barnhart and Klein trace it to [[ine-pro|*wen-|t=to desire, strive for]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Klein 1966) the root of [[la|venus|t=love, desire]] and [[wish]],^(Klein 1966)^(MWU 2024)^(Barnhart 1988) while Hoad and the Shorter Oxford call its further relations uncertain.^(Hoad 1986)^(SOED 2002) Its relatives include [[nl|winnen]], [[de|gewinnen]] and [[non|vinna|t=to work, gain]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Klein 1966)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To labour, struggle for, fight: Old English ''winnan'', about 725, in ''Beowulf''.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) ''Gewinnan'' “to win” is recorded in 971.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In early Middle English ''winnen'' meant “to strive, contend” (about 1200),^(Barnhart 1988) and about 1300 also “to be victorious”.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) The sense of effort faded into “to earn something through effort” (about 1300), which lingers in ''breadwinner''.^(Etymonline) ''Win'' someone's affection is late 14th century, and in Middle English one could also win enemies.^(Etymonline) The Old English noun ''winn'' meant “toil, strife, gain”; all these senses are obsolete, and ''win'' “a victory” is a new formation from the verb, recorded from 1862.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) ''Winner'' is first found about 1353, in ''Winner and Waster'',^(Barnhart 1988) and ''you can't win them all'' in sports writing of 1886.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 725 – Old English ''winnan'', to struggle (''Beowulf'').^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 971 – ''gewinnan'', to gain.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1300 – to be victorious; to earn.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1353 – ''winner''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * late 14th century – to win affection.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1862 – noun, a victory.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1886 – ''you can't win them all''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To achieve [[victory]] or finish first in a contest.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # To receive as a [[prize]] or reward.^(AHD)

+ # To gain by effort: ''win a living''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To gain the favour, support or love of someone.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To reach with difficulty.^(AHD)

+ # To capture in battle.^(AHD)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A victory, especially in a contest.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # An amount won.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[winless]]

+ * [[winnable]]

+ * [[winning]]

+ * [[winner]]

+ * [[hard-won]]

+ * [[rewin]]

+ * [[win-win]]

+ * [[no-win]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[wish]]

+ * [[venerate]]

+ * [[venereal]]

+ * [[winsome]]

+ * [[breadwinner]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Scots and northern English dialects have separate verbs ''win'' “to dwell”, a variant of ''won'', and ''win'' “to dry hay or peat in the air”, perhaps from ''win'' “to gain” but associated with ''wind''.^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}