Where does “gain” come from?

gain (Middle English) comes from Old English ġean, from Old English ġeġn, from Proto-Germanic gagin — towards, in the direction of; against.

gain (Middle English): Alternative form of gayn; Alternative form of...

Definitions

  1. Alternative form of gayn; Alternative form of...

Ancestry of “gain”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishġeanagain
2Old Englishġeġnagain
3Proto-Germanicgagintowards, in the direction of; against

Words derived from “gain

Every word from Proto-Germanic gaginEvery word from Old English ġeġnEvery word from Old English ġean
gain — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer