WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : Win"now
Part of Speech : v.
Etymology : [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. . See Wind moving air, and cf. Fan., n., Ventilate.]
Definition : 1. To separate, and drive off, the chaff from by means of wind; to fan; as, to winnow grain. Ho winnoweth barley to-night in the threshing floor. Ruth. iii. 2.

2. To sift, as for the purpose of separating falsehood from truth; to separate, as had from good. Winnow well this thought, and you shall find This light as chaff that flies before the wind. Dryden.

3. To beat with wings, or as with wings.[Poetic] Now on the polar winds; then with quick fan Winnows the buxom air. Milton.

t. [imp. & p. p. Winnowed; p. pr. & vb. n. Winnowing.]
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913

Pronunciation : Win"now
Part of Speech : v.
Definition : Defn: To separate chaff from grain. Winnow not with every wind. Ecclus. v. 9.

i.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913