gainset
English
[edit]Alternative forms
[edit]Etymology
[edit]From Middle English gaynsetten, yensetten (also aȝeynesetten (“to oppose”)), equivalent to gain- + set. Cognate with archaic German gegensetzen (“to oppose”) (whence entgegensetzen), German Gegensatz (“opposition”).
Verb
[edit]gainset (third-person singular simple present gainsets, present participle gainsetting, simple past and past participle gainset)
- (transitive, rare, dialectal or archaic) To set over against; oppose.
- 1594, Carew, Huarte's Examamination of Men's Wits vi. 73:
- This humour aideth the vnderstanding with two qualities, and gainsetteth it selfe only with one.
- 1625, original 1584-1603, Guillaume de Saluste du Bartas, William Lisle, S. Goulart Senlisien, La Seconde Semaine[1], page 50:
- Sith I doe not take vpon mee but to write bare Annotations, I leaue it to the Readers conſideration, who may ſee, now more then euer, that the world continueth the building of Babel: that is, men madly gainſet their owne wiſedome and power againſt the wiſedome and power of God; […]
- 1841, Charles Rogers, The Bairnsla Foaks' Annual: Be Tom Treddlehoyle[2], page 11:
- An t'Man up it Mooin in hiz letter sent wurd,
This wor ta begin Febrewerry Twenty-Thurd,
Shud yo like to see it - put yersen e moshan,
An ax't gainset way tut North Pacifick Oashan;
If ankshas yo feel to be there before nooin,
Yo mun tack a cheap trip e somebody's baloon; […]- And the Man up in the Moon in his letter sent word,
This was to begin February Twenty-Third,
Should you like to see it - put yourself in motion,
And ask the gainset[sic] (opposite) way to the North Pacific Ocean;
If anxious you feel to be there before noon,
You must take a cheap trip in somebody's balloon; […]
- And the Man up in the Moon in his letter sent word,
- 1914, original between 1305 and 1350, Richard Rolle, Frances Margaret Mary Comper, The Fire of Love:
- Forsooth some gainsetting say: active life is more fruitful; for it does works of mercy, it preaches and works other such deeds; […]