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winnowingmore about winnowing

winnowing


  3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Winnowing  \Win"now*ing\,  n. 
  The  act  of  one  who  or  that  which  winnows. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Winnew  \Win"new\,  v.  t.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Winnowed};  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.  ????.  See  {Wind}  moving  air,  and  cf 
  {Fan}.,  n.,  {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  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. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  winnowing 
  n  :  the  act  of  winnowing  [syn:  {winnow},  {sifting}] 




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