English Explanatory Dictionary

gain-

English dictionary entry

Meanings

prefix
  1. Prefix meaning "against", "contrary to", "in opposition to", "counter-".
  2. Prefix denoting reciprocal action; "in return"; "counter-".
  3. Prefix denoting restoration or a return to a previous state; "back again".
  4. Prefix denoting repetition; "over again"; "anew"; again-.

Word forms

gain- gane-

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.

Derived words

gainbite gaincome gaincope gaindo gaingiving gainsay gainstand gainstrive gaintwist
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