Dictionary

gainset en · VERB

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”).

Meanings

1. (archaic, dialectal, rare, transitive) To set over against; oppose.
   • 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;[…] 1841, Charles Rogers, The Bairnsla Foaks' Annual: Be Tom Treddlehoyle, page 11:
   • 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; […] 1625, original 1584-1603, Guillaume de Saluste du Bartas, William Lisle, S. Goulart Senlisien, La Seconde Semaine, page 50:
   • Forsooth some gainsetting say: active life is more fruitful; for it does works of mercy, it preaches and works other such deeds; […] 1914, original between 1305 and 1350, Richard Rolle, Frances Margaret Mary Comper, The Fire of Love:
   • This humour aideth the vnderstanding with two qualities, and gainsetteth it selfe only with one. 1594, Carew, Huarte's Examamination of Men's Wits vi. 73:

Forms