gainset

present singular third person gainsets · participle present gainsetting · alternative gain-set · alternative gaynset

1. archaicdialectalraretransitiveTo set over against; oppose.

   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

   3 more examples

   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

   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

   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