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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Winnow \Win"now\ (w[i^]n"n[-o]), verb (used with an object) [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}., noun, {Ventilate}.]
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 bad 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.
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Winnowing \Win"now*ing\, noun The act of one who, or that which, winnows.
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
winnowing
noun: the act of separating grain from chaff; "the winnowing was done by women" [syn: {winnow}, {sifting}]
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Definitions retrieved from local copies of the freely distributed DICT client/server software and databases. Click here for database copyright information. - KM |