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Webster 1913 Edition

Winnow

Win′now

(wĭn′nō̍)
,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Winnowed
(wĭn′nō̍d)
;
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
. √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.

Win′now

,
Verb.
I.
To separate chaff from grain.
Winnow
not with every wind.
Ecclus. v. 9.

Webster 1828 Edition

Winnow

WINNOW

,
Verb.
T.
[L., a fan.]
1.
To separate and drive off the chaff from grain by means of wind. Grain is winnowed by a fan, or by a machine, or by pouring it out of a vessel in a current of air.
2.
To fan; to beat as with wings.
3.
To examine; to sift for the purpose of separating falsehood from truth.
Winnow well this thought.
4.
To separate, as the bad from the good.

WINNOW

,
Verb.
I.
To separate chaff from corn.
Winnow not with every wind.

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