\Gain\ (g[=a]n), 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.

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

\Gain\ (g[=a]n), 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}.
         But what things were gain to me, those I counted
         loss for Christ.                      --Phil. iii.
                                               7.
         Godliness with contentment is great gain. --1 Tim.
                                               vi. 6.
         Every one shall share in the gains.   --Shak.
2. The obtaining or amassing of profit or valuable
   possessions; acquisition; accumulation. ``The lust of
   gain.'' --Tennyson.

\Gain\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Gained} (g[=a]nd); p. pr. &
vb. n. {Gaining}.] [From gain, n. but. prob. influenced by F.
gagner to earn, gain, OF. gaaignier to cultivate, OHG.
weidin[=o]n, weidinen to pasture, hunt, fr. weida pasturage,
G. weide, akin to Icel. vei[eth]r hunting, AS. w[=a][eth]u,
cf. L. venari to hunt, E. venison. See {Gain}, n., profit.]
1. To get, as profit or advantage; to obtain or acquire by
   effort or labor; as, to gain a good living.
         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.

\Gain\, 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.
      Thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbors by
      extortion.                               --Ezek. xxii.
                                               12.
{Gaining twist}, in rifled firearms, a twist of the grooves,
   which increases regularly from the breech to the muzzle.
{To gain on} or {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.
          The English have not only gained upon the Venetians
          in the Levant, but have their cloth in Venice
          itself.                              --Addison.
          My good behavior had so far gained on the emperor,
          that I began to conceive hopes of liberty. --Swift.