From Middle English winnen, from Old English winnan (“to labour, swink, toil,”) (compare Old English ġewinnan (“conquer, obtain, gain; endure, bear, suffer; be ill”)), from Proto-West Germanic *winnan, from Proto-Germanic *winnaną (“to swink, labour, win, gain, fight”), from Proto-Indo-European *wenh₁- (“to strive, wish, desire, love”). Cognates Cognate with North Frisian wan, wane, wen, wine, wune (“to win”), Saterland Frisian and West Frisian winne (“to win”), Cimbrian gabènnan (“to win”), Dutch and Low German winnen (“to win”), German gewinnen (“to win”), Luxembourgish gewannen (“to win”), Danish vinde (“to win”), Faroese and Icelandic vinna (“to win”), Norwegian Bokmål vinne (“to win”), Norwegian Nynorsk vinna, vinne (“to win”), Swedish vinna (“to win”), Gothic 𐍅𐌹𐌽𐌽𐌰𐌽 (winnan, “to suffer”); also Latin venus (“beauty, charm, elegance, grace; beloved, love”), Albanian vuaj, vuj (“to suffer; to endure”), Sanskrit वनोति (vanoti, “to desire, like, love, wish; to gain, procure; to win; to prepare; to hurt, injure”).
For and we doo bataille we two wyl fyghte with one knyȝt at ones and therfore yf ye wille fyghte ſoo we wille be redy at what houre ye wille aſſigne And yf ye wynne vs in bataille the lady ſhal haue her landes ageyne ye ſay wel ſayd ſir Vwayne therfor make yow redy ſo that ye be here to morne in the defence of the ladyes ryght1485, Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book IV:
For the glory, the power to win the Black Lord, I will search for the Emerald Sword.1998, Rhapsody, Emerald Sword:
2
To reach some destination or object, despite difficulty or toil (now usually intransitive, with preposition or locative adverb).
I well may gang out, love, but I'll never win home.c. 17th century, unknown author, The Baron of Brackley (traditional folk song)
No sooner did I get my freedom than my footsteps began to be dogged by the spies of the Iron Heel. It was necessary that they should be thrown off the track, and that I should win to California.1908, Jack London, The Iron Heel:
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As this position was vulnerable, a trench was immediately begun from the junction of the Green Line with Lager Alley, back to the old British front line, in order to form a defensive flank for the protection of the troops of the 5th Infantry Brigade who had won through to their objective.1922, Everard Wyrall, The History of the Second Division 1914-1918:
Parson Brooke was transferred in a couple of years to the Southwark mint, on dissolution of which he won back to the Tower, there to experiment with machinery in Mary's reign.1953, John Craig, The Mint: A History of the London Mint from A.D. 287 to 1948:
That euen in the Porch he him did win, And cleft his head aſunder to his chin1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book VI, Canto I”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 23:
And when the stony path began, By which the naked peak they won, Up flew the snowy ptarmigan.1808 February 22, Walter Scott, “(please specify the introduction or canto number, or chapter name)”, in Marmion; a Tale of Flodden Field, Edinburgh: […] J[ames] Ballantyne and Co. for Archibald Constable and Company, […]; London: William Miller, and John Murray, →OCLC:
3
To triumph or achieve victory in (a game, a war, etc.).
4
To gain (a prize) by succeeding in competition or contest.
to win the jackpot in a lottery; to win a bottle of wine in a raffle
5
To obtain (someone) by wooing; to make an ally or friend of (frequently with over).
Thy virtue won me; with virtue preserve me.a. 1587, Philippe Sidnei [i.e., Philip Sidney], “(please specify the folio)”, in [Fulke Greville; Matthew Gwinne; John Florio], editors, The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia [The New Arcadia], London: […] [John Windet] for William Ponsonbie, published 1590, →OCLC:
She is a woman; therefore to be won.1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Sixt”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene iii]:
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Mr. Weston seems an excellent creature—quite a first-rate favourite with me already, I assure you. And she appears so truly good—there is something so motherly and kind-hearted about her, that it wins upon one directly.1815, Jane Austen, Emma, volume II, chapter 14:
6
To achieve victory.
Who would win in a fight between an octopus and a dolphin?
Nah, I'd win.
7
To have power, coercion or control.
Ever since the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, Bostonians now run as "One Boston." The terrorists did not win.
8
To obtain (something desired).
The company hopes to win an order from the government worth over 5 million dollars.
9
To cause a victory for someone.
The success of the economic policies should win Mr. Smith the next elections.
The policy success should win the elections for Mr. Smith.
Pre-64 Win has a heritage that can't be beat. For me, it's Rems for prarie dogs and paper, Wins (or 1917 Enfields) for stuff that wants to stomp you into a greasy spot on the tundra.1997 December 23, Marcus [username], “Re: New Pre '64 or 700 action?”, in rec.guns (Usenet):
win
noun
Etymology From Middle English winn, winne, from Old English winn (“toil, labor, trouble, hardship; profit, gain; conflict, strife, war”), from Proto-Germanic *winną (“labour, struggle, fight”), from Proto-Indo-European *wenh₁- (“to strive, desire, wish, love”). Cognate with German Gewinn (“profit, gain”), Dutch gewin (“profit, gain”).
1
An individual victory.
Our first win of the season put us in high spirits.
Giovani dos Santos smashed home a third five minutes later to wrap up the win.2011 September 29, Jon Smith, “Tottenham 3 - 1 Shamrock Rovers”, in BBC Sport:
2
Slang A feat carried out successfully; a victorious achievement.