Dictionary

gaingiving en · NOUN

Etymology

From gain- + giving.

Meanings

1. (archaic, countable, uncountable) A misgiving; an internal feeling or prognostication of evil.
   • The hero of our play will be, not only a man who might have made a soldier, "had he been put on," and who has effectively been relieved of his vigil by the time we bid him farewell, but one also who, though he scorns to be troubled by "gaingiving", [...] 2011, Harold Skulsky, Spirits Finely Touched::
   • “A hasty withdrawing on thy part, or a gaingiving in thy look, those will serve.” 2003, Pamela Dean, The whim of the dragon:
   • It is but foolery, but it is such a kind of gaingiving as would perhaps trouble a woman. c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene ii]:
   • "I tell thee what it is, Dick," he growled, "I have a gaingiving come over me, as I think on yonder barn ; it well nigh makes me turn back, now we are within a stone's throw of it, and that's the truth. 1880, The Irish Monthly, volume 8:
   • His olden courage is without reproach; Albeit his temper trends toward gaingiving! 1904, Thomas Hardy, The Dynasts: An Epic-Drama of the War with Napoleon:
2. (countable, uncountable) A giving against or away.

Forms

Relateds

gaingive