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gain-. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
gain-, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
gain- in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
gain- you have here. The definition of the word
gain- will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
gain-, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Etymology
From Middle English gain- (prefix), from Old English geġn-, gēan- (“back, against, in return”, prefix), from Proto-West Germanic *gagin, from Proto-Germanic *gagin (“towards, against”).
Cognate with Saterland Frisian juun- (“counter-”), West Frisian tsjin- (“counter-”), Dutch tegen- (“counter-”), German gegen- (“against, toward, at”), Icelandic gagn- (“through”). More at again.
Prefix
gain-
- Prefix meaning "against", "contrary to", "in opposition to", "counter-".
- gainsay, gainstand, gainstay, gainstrive
- Prefix denoting reciprocal action; "in return"; "counter-".
- gainclap, gaingive, gainyield
- Prefix denoting restoration or a return to a previous state; "back again".
- gainbuy, gaincover, gaintake
- Prefix denoting repetition; "over again"; "anew"; again-.
- gainrising, gaincoming
Derived terms
Anagrams
- Agin, Agni, Angi, Gina, NGIA, Nagi, Ngai, a- -ing, ag'in, agin, gina, inga