Middle English Dictionary Entry
winning(e ger.
Entry Info
| Forms | winning(e ger. Also winningge, (N) wenninge & (errors) wynnyg(g)e, wymmynge; pl. winning(e)s, (error) winnigs. |
| Etymology | From winnen v. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The act or action of acquiring material goods or money, the getting of things, acquisition; also, financial success, prosperity [quot. c1400]; ?accumulated wealth, possessions [last quot.];
(b) monetary gain, financial benefit; also, a legitimate profit or profits, a return on an investment; worldes (worldli) ~;
(c) legitimate earnings for work performed, remuneration;—also pl.; a reward for one’s labor; regular income;
(d) material gain obtained through morally dubious means, ill-gotten gains; a gain or gains resulting from usury, usurious or sharp practices, etc., exorbitant interest or profits; fals (foul, wrong, etc.) ~; pl. winnings, profits from gambling.
Associated quotations
a
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)34/27 : Auarice…sseweþ in þri maneres generalliche, ine wynnynge boldeliche, ine ofhealdinge streytliche, ine spendinge scarsliche.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))2 Mac.11.3 : Lisias…gadrid foure score thousandis…forsothe to hauynge the temple in to wynnynge of money.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fri.(Manly-Rickert)D.1478 : It is passed pryme And yet ne wan I no thyng in this day; I wol entende to wynnyng if I may.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)6101 : Þese þre sorwes shal he haue, hys tresour for to gete and saue; Þe fyrst ys trauayle yn þe wynnyng.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)5.35 : Late no wynnynge hem forweny whil þei be ȝonge.
- a1425(?a1350) 7 Sages(2) (Glb E.9)1742 : ‘Þat gold, dame, þan sal we haue’…‘Þat war hard winyng of catele.’
- a1425 De Officio Militis (Ryl Eng 412)156 : Þei shul ben voyded of her seruice, were þei neuere so profitable in worldli wynnyng.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)862 : Alwey gadyr and haue non reste; In wynnynge be al þi werke.
- c1450(a1400) Lavynham Treat.7 Dead.Sins (Hrl 211)8/22 : Tresown is whan a man is fals to hym to whom he owȝte to be trewe, for wynnyng of money or getyng of mede.
- (c1454) Pecock Fol.(Roy 17.D.9)58/1 : Wheþir…ben þei riche marchauntis and kunnyng in wynnyng bi marchaundisyng?
- c1425(a1400) Wycl.Pseudo-F.(Dub 245)308 : Þise ben gruccheris…& here mouþ spekiþ pride, makinge persones wondirful bi cause of here wynnyng.
b
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)36/27 : Hi by uelaȝe to þe wynnynge and naȝt to þe lere.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Phil.3.7 : Whiche thingis weren to me wynnyngis, I haue demyde these peiringis for Crist.
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.275 : Hise resons he spak ful solempnely, Sownynge alwey thencrees of his wynnyng.
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)313/7 : An yuel seruaunt…turneþ þe wynnynge of his lord into his owne vse and profite.
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)988/13 : Þis flex is nouȝt most strong but þerof comeþ most wynnyng, for þerof is kynde vestymentes ymade for prestes.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)25803 : Man, þou has ben to couetus, Abote werlds wining fuus.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)6.98 : He bouhte suche a bargayn, he was þe bet euere…Suche a wynnynge hym warth þorw wyrdes of hus grace.
- (1425) Grocer Lond.in Bk.Lond.E.203/276 : Reseyvyd…For wynnyng off peper, summa xxj li.
- c1429 Mirror Salv.(Beeleigh)4212 : A man…til his men bezauntes toke ten for emprowyng, And at his gayncome to gif hym trewly the wynnyng.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)165 : Bi doom of resoun men doon anentis worldli deedis of charge, wher ynne lijth oonli worldli wynnyng or ascaping of worldli punysching.
- c1460 Oseney Reg.195/15 : Joye…axith of hym ij marke of catalle and wynnynges þerof i-come afore þe statute of the Kyng.
- (1472) Doc.in Sur.Soc.8523 : Ya sell noy feche wt owt yt it be abyld be fyche [read: syche] offesers as sall be asegnid be Lord & Stuerd, & at ye fecher be sworne what yt it coste at see, & he for to have a competent wennynge.
- c1475 Body Pol.(Cmb Kk.1.5)186/18 : Marchauntes ought to be of honest and clene lyfe…many dyuers…haue geuen the x parte of the wynnyngis.
- a1500(a1400) Cleges (Adv 19.1.11)317 : But þou me graunte…The thyrd part of þi wynnyng [vr. wyneng], Wan þou comste ayen to me.
- a1500 Henley Husb.(Sln 686)41 : The ix chapitur tellithe…howe moche a acre off land shall yeld agayne more þen your seede yeff ye shuld haue wynyng þer bye.
- a1550(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Sln 1873)2546 : At the firste makyng of oure stone, That tyme for wynnynge loke for none…The costis be so grete before.
- a1550(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Sln 1873)2557 : Then wynnyng first begynnyth to aryse, But aftyrwarde…At euery augment contynuallye Profite shall growe comodiouslye.
c
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)968 : O þi winning giue me þe tend.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)281/3 : It is perilous for to kutte, & þerfore I rede þee take þat wynnynge to oþere cirurgians.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.268 : Þe kyng tille him þerfore did grete curteysie; Wynnyng for his lore he gaf him largelie.
- c1400 Vertues & (Bod 416)9 : Richesse is clepud worþynes…robberie good wynnynge, & glotenye but murþe.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)5682 : They…in the tauerne all dispendith The wynnyng that god hem sendith.
- c1425 Arderne Fistula (Sln 6)4/6 : It bihoueth hym…som tyme visite of his wynnyngis poure men aftir his myȝt.
- c1450(a1449) Lydg.Endure(2) (Add 36983)47 : He that passeth his wynnynges by dispense…may no whyle endure.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)345 : Whanne euere eny man lackith his seid sufficient hauour, and is not in nyȝe power forto gete or haue it bi his owne wynnyng…than he is excusid forto begge.
- a1450 Form Excom.(1) (Cld A.2)65 : Hit is to tyȝe…of wolle-men, off schapmen, off wynnynge of þer crafte or schaffare.
- (1455) RParl.5.326b : Yer be…Attorneys…not havyng any oyer lyving, but oonly yer wynnyng by yer seid Attorneyshep.
d
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)44/12 : Þe eȝtende boȝ of auarice is chapfare huerinne me zeneȝeþ ine uele maneres uor timlich wynnynge.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Prov.28.8 : With free wynnyng of vsure in to pore men he gedereþ þem togidere.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))1 Tim.3.8 : It byhoueth dekenes for to be…not suynge foul wynnyng.
- c1390 Ȝhit is god (Vrn)75 : Mony for wynnyng wolde bi-traye Fader and Moder and al his kin.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)8.27 : Treuþe…bad hym begge boldely…And siþen selle it aȝen & saue þe wynnyng [C: wynnynges].
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)5723 : They selle her science for wynnyng, And haunte her crafte for gret getyng.
- a1450 In my conscience (Dgb 102)77 : Þy wrong wynnyng aȝen restore.
- c1450 Spec.Chr.(2) (Hrl 6580)30/6 : The seuente comaundment: Thou schal do no thefte. Here in this commaundment es for-boden al fals wynnynge, be it…raueyne, vsur, or fals mesure.
- (?c1459) Lin.DDoc.115/5 : By fals Symonye and wynnyng of the valour of xx li. that I haue receyued, I haue vntreuly put Sir Robert Cade, prest, in possession of the benefice of Aylesby.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)142.283 (v.2:p.413) : Yf I yeue the thanne .. a stook or an heed to pleyin whithe, wylt thou thanne euery yeer comyn ageyn to me and departyn with me thy wynnyngys?
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)71 : Okerers and false merchauntz…rennyth aboute ouer all, for wynnyng & lucre.
- c1600(?c1395) PPl.Creed (Trin-C R.3.15)471 : Cures of Cristen þei coveten nouȝt to haue, But þere as wynnynge lijþ he lokeþ none oþer.
2.
(a) The act or action of deriving nonmaterial or not specifically material benefits, the gaining of some good; ~ of divinite, the assumption of qualities associated with the divine;
(b) a nonmaterial or not specifically material benefit; an advantage; also, a position of superiority, an edge; also, a spiritual benefit, profit to the soul [occas. difficult to distinguish from sense 1.(b)];
(c) ?good fortune; also, a happy state, good times.
Associated quotations
a
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.199 : I have herd told…which a labour folk han in wynnynge Of love.
- c1450(a1400) Lavynham Treat.7 Dead.Sins (Hrl 211)15/5 : Heuynesse of a mannys bonchef is whan a man seeth his broþer encresyn in vertu…in wynnyng of worschip or in eny oþer good hap & is heuy in his herte þerof.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.181 : Be wynnyng of dyuynite Men may be maked goddes.
- c1460 Tree & Fruits HG (McC 132)154/17 : Þat calle I wordly occupaciouns wich is don only for wynnyng of worschip.
- c1475 Body Pol.(Cmb Kk.1.5)56/8 : They had a very beleve that the wynnyngis of their worchippis cam of their goddis.
b
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)23/23 : Of alle oure goudes he ssel habbe þe worþssipe and þe heryinge, and we þe wynnygge [read: wynnyngge; Vices & V.(2): þe auauntage and profiȝt].
- 1372 ME Verse in Grimestone PB (Adv 18.7.21)p.14 : Vera dileccio debet esse…Kinde withouten hope of werdli winningge.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mal.3.14 : What wynnynge for we kepten his heestis, and for we wenten sorewful bifore the Lord of oostis?
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.2284 : As to the worldes rekeninge, Ther schal he finde no winnynge.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)2652 : Some men wytnessen a lesyng For none ouþer wynnyng But for to begyle sum man þer-ynne.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)24a/a : Emolimentum: tol or wynnyge [Cnt: wynnyng] or a vauntage.
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.(Göt Hist 740)24206 : Gormunde, þe kyng of affrik, herde How þe britons amanges þam ferde, And þoru treson how þe saxons, And oþer winnigs [read: winnings] and achesons.
- (1435) Misyn FL (Corp-O 236)11/31 : Mihi viuere cristus est, & mori lucrum, ‘Criste to me is lyfe, & grete wynnyng to dy.’
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)2471 : Þeir awn winyng þai sal not wayt; Þat oþer win þai sal couayt.
- a1475(1450) Scrope DSP (Bod 943)14/7 : Knytt the loue of feithe with wisdome…if ye doo so, alle your tyme schalle be to yow grete wynnyng.
- c1450(a1400) Orolog.Sap.(Dc 114)359/43 : Þere was noon houre so schorte but þat I myȝhte þere-Inne haue goten goostly winnynges, þat passen in value alle erthly goodes.
- a1500 Apoc.(2) (Magd-C F.4.5)65/11 : [Hrl 171: Men þat dwelliden in erþe ben auarous men, þat han ȝeuen her hertis to erþeliche þingis], & lytel or noȝt to heuenly wynnynge.
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)43/27 : Thou knowest nat what spirituall wynnynge reboundith from thes temporall hurtes or harmes.
c
- c1330(?a1300) Tristrem (Auch)3006 : Tristrem and ganhardin, Treuþe pliȝten þay In wining and in tin Trewe to ben ay, In ioie and in pin, In al þing to say.
- c1400 St.Alex.(3) (LdMisc 622)73/1088 : After fair weder falleþ reyn, After wynnyng wep ageyn.
3.
In phrase: ~ shone, the act of demonstrating prowess as a knight.
Associated quotations
- c1450 Lond.Chron.Cleo.(Cleo C.4)121 : Hym failed þe wynnynge of his schone, þorow myght of god omnipotent.
- a1500(?c1450) Florence (Cmb Ff.2.38)655 : Syr Garcy…Made knyghtys…Syxty…At þe furste wynnyng of þer schone…tyte of lyuys were they done.
4.
(a) The act or action of gaining control (of a country or town) through military force, conquering or capture;
(b) property or territory seized by military force, booty, the spoils of war; pl. booty, spoils of war; also, objects seized in war, prizes for the victor;
(c) money or goods won by defeating an opponent in a game, (one’s) winnings;—also pl.
Associated quotations
a
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.47 : Iustly of resoun I may meve, Touching þe wynnyng & geting of þis toun.
- (1422) Doc.in Flasdieck Origurk.61 : He schulde gon ouer the se to ye wynnyng of Harflw.
- a1500(?a1325) Otuel & R (Fil)119 : He wyl thy body spylle, ffor the wynnyng off Spayne.
b
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)8653 : Sum bi fe, sum for wining…to Leodegan þe king Were comen to his fiȝt.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.296 : Þritti reames men tolde, þat kyng Arthur wan; He parted his wynnyng tille his men largely.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)4540 : To vche man on hors ȝiue he wolde Fyue mark of rede golde…And habben hij shullen, naþeles, Al her wynnyng and purchas.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Merlin (Corp-C 80)18359 : Here harneys and al here oþer wynneng To-forn hem they hit hadde.
- c1450 Ponthus (Dgb 185)86/14 : The Cristen lordes toke vesselles and shippes…They had mony grete wynnyngges, wherof they wer all ryche.
- (1474) in Rymer's Foedera (1709-10)11.818 : Our said Soverayne Lord the King shall have the Thred part of Wynnynngs of Werre.
- (1475) Paston (EETS)1.637 : The sayd Duc shal haue the iijde parte of wynnynges of werre.
- a1500(?a1325) Otuel & R (Fil)1936 : Portyngale & Nauerne, to the brytons he ȝaf hyt ȝerne, and thus parteth hys wynnyngys.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)167 : The kynge Arthur made be leide on an hepe all the wynynge and the richesse that ther was geten.
c
- c1330(?a1300) Tristrem (Auch)380 : O lond þai sett þat sleiȝe Wiþ al his wining ȝare, Wiþ broche and riche beiȝe.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.JHare (LdMisc 683)46 : He…can…at the dys pley the mony soon, And with his wynnyngis he maketh his offryng At the ale stakes.
5.
(a) The act of triumphing in battle or combat; also, victory, triumph;
(b) the act of winning a wager, betting successfully;
(c) the defeat (of an adversary) in combat, victory (over sb.).
Associated quotations
a
- c1400 Wit & W.(Cmb Res.b.162)d/2 : Of þe men no þe mayn he nedes Wirkes noght þe winning at wiplaw in felde.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)1610 : Brutus & hys men of Troye, ffor þeyr wynnynge þey mad gret ioye.
- a1450 Gener.(1) (Mrg M 876)5302 : Vpon me Bellins, youre grete king, Shal fall the lose or the wynnyng; With my bodie alloone I shal Fight with som knight.
b
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)403 : The same abbot or bischop and her successouris hadden the same ȝiftis bi heritage or bi biyng or bi wynnyng in waiouring or bi sum other fre maner of geting.
c
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)310/2 : I shall…forgyff the…the deth of my brothir, the Blak Knyght, and the wynnyng of my brothir the Grene Knyght.
6.
The act of converting people to God; the saving or rescuing (of souls); the drawing (of souls to heaven); also [quot. a1450], ?rescue; ?redemption.
Associated quotations
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)191/27 : I graunte refoormynge of holy chirche…by weilynge and wepynge of my seruauntis, whom I haue sent as laboreris for wynnynge of soulis in þe mysterial body of holy chirche.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.Prelates (Corp-C 296)93 : Þei loue more here owen…lustis þan wynnynge of soulis to blisse.
- a1450 LDirige(1) (Dgb 102)281 : In helle is no wynnyng Ne non aȝeynbyynge to pes.
- c1460 Tree & Fruits HG (McC 132)103/7 : He…shal wynne many soules to god and at þe last for his wynnyng shal receyue gret rewardis.
7.
The attainment of a state; welthe ~, the attainment of salvation.
Associated quotations
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)1/3 : I am lyfe and way vnto welth wynnyng.
- c1460 Tree & Fruits HG (McC 132)2/22 : Suche knowleche of þin owne pride shal be cause of wynnyng of very meknes.
- c1460 Tree & Fruits HG (McC 132)88/8 : Þer risith moche wynnyng of vertu in such pacient abiding.
8.
(a) ?The mining (of coal); ?the receiving (of coal) as cargo;
(b) the conveying of (a commodity), carriage.
Associated quotations
a
- (1447) Doc.Durham in Sur.Soc.9p.cccxiii : The said John, Bertrame…Rallyn, and William sall…labour & wyn a watergate for wynnyng of cole.
b
- (1455-6) Acc.Yatton in Som.RS 498 : For j man to helpe to wymmynge [?read: wynnynge] the malte to the mylle, ij d.
9.
In surname.
Associated quotations
- (1332) Sub.R.Sus.in Sus.RS 10259 : Johanne atte Wynyng.