gainset

English

Alternative forms

• gain-set, gaynset

Etymology

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

gainset (third-person singular simple present gainsets, present participle gainsetting, simple past and past participle gainset)

1. (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; […]

   • 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; […]

Anagrams

• tangies, tsigane, eatings, ingesta, gainest, seating, ageinst, genista, easting, signate, teasing, tagines, giantes, ingates