Winnowing

Winnowing
Winnow Win"now (w[i^]n"n[-o]), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Winnowed} (w[i^]n"n[-o]d); p. pr. & vb. n. {Winnowing}.] [OE. windewen, winewen, AS. windwian; akin to Goth. winpjan (in comp.), winpi-skauro a fan, L. ventilare to fan, to winnow; cf. L. wannus a fan for winnowing, G. wanne, OHG. wanna. [root]131. See {Wind} moving air, and cf. {Fan}., n., {Ventilate}.] [1913 Webster] 1. To separate, and drive off, the chaff from by means of wind; to fan; as, to winnow grain. [1913 Webster]

Ho winnoweth barley to-night in the threshing floor. --Ruth. iii. 2. [1913 Webster]

2. To sift, as for the purpose of separating falsehood from truth; to separate, as bad from good. [1913 Webster]

Winnow well this thought, and you shall find This light as chaff that flies before the wind. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

3. To beat with wings, or as with wings.[Poetic] [1913 Webster]

Now on the polar winds; then with quick fan Winnows the buxom air. --Milton. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Winnowing — Win now*ing, n. The act of one who, or that which, winnows. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Winnowing — Wind winnowing is an agricultural method developed by ancient cultures for separating grain from chaff. It is also used to remove weevils or other pests from stored grain. Threshing, the separation of grain or seeds from the husks and straw, is… …   Wikipedia

  • winnowing — win·now || wɪnəʊ n. act of winnowing; device for winnowing grain v. separate the grain from the chaff; separate the good from the bad; blow through; scatter; blow over; sift through, select the desirable parts …   English contemporary dictionary

  • winnowing — noun the act of separating grain from chaff the winnowing was done by women • Syn: ↑winnow, ↑sifting • Derivationally related forms: ↑sift (for: ↑sifting), ↑winnow, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • Winnowing barn — Winnowing barns (or winnowing houses) were commonly found in South Carolina on antebellum rice plantations. A winnowing barn consists of a large shed on tall posts with a hole in the floor. Raw, husked rice was carried up into the barn by workers …   Wikipedia

  • Winnowing Oar — The Winnowing Oar ( athereloigon Greek ἀθηρηλοιγόν ) is an object that appears in Books XI and XXIII of Homer s Odyssey. [ [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi bin/ptext?lookup=Hom.+Od.+1.1 The Odyssey] , Perseus Project] In the epic, Odysseus is… …   Wikipedia

  • winnowing basket — noun or winnowing fan ˈ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ 1. : a device for winnowing grain 2. : a representation of a winnowing basket used as a heraldic design …   Useful english dictionary

  • winnowing machine — noun A machine which winnows grain Thus, then, have the Monks, without express ballot box or other good winnowing machine, contrived to accomplish the most important social feat a body of men can do, to winnow out the man that is to govern them… …   Wiktionary

  • winnowing-fan — noun see winnowing basket * * * winnˈowing fan or winnˈowing machine noun A fan or machine for winnowing • • • Main Entry: ↑winnow …   Useful english dictionary

  • Winnowing Basket (Chinese constellation) — The Winnowing Basket mansion (箕宿, pinyin: Jī Xiù) is one of the Twenty eight mansions of the Chinese constellations. It is one of the eastern mansions of the Azure Dragon. Asterisms …   Wikipedia

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