WINNOW • DICCIONARIO INGLES.COM • Definition of Winnow

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/wˈɪnˌoʊ/ Listen

verb

Winnow v. t. (past & past part. winnowed; pres. part. winnowing)

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."

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."

To beat with wings, or as with wings.(Poetic) "Now on the polar winds; then with quick fan Winnows the buxom air."

Winnow v. i. To separate chaff from grain. "Winnow not with every wind."

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Etymology of 'Winnow'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Winnow" Quotes from Famous Books

... the East and from the West, That's subject to no academic rule; You may find it in the jeering of a jest, Or distil it from the folly of a fool. I can teach you with a quip, if I've a mind; I can trick you into learning with a laugh; Oh, winnow all my folly, and you'll find A grain or two ...

— Songs of a Savoyard • W. S. Gilbert

... own game, talked theosophy with Katso Suguri, the Japanese Buddhist and silk importer, fell for police graft, played and paid his insidious share in the democratic politics of annexed Hawaii, and was thinking of buying an automobile. Ah Kim never dared bare himself to himself and thrash out and winnow out how much of the old he had ceased to believe in. His mother was of the old, yet he revered her and was happy under her bamboo stick. Li Faa, the Silvery Moon Blossom, was of the new, yet he could never be ...

— On the Makaloa Mat/Island Tales • Jack London

... Addresses in former times, will find them to have been manag'd in the House of Commons, with all the calmness and circumspection imaginable. The Crimes were first maturely weigh'd, and the whole matter throughly winnow'd in Debates. After which, if they thought it necessary for the publick wellfare, that such a person should be remov'd, they dutifully acquainted the King with their opinion, which was often favourably heard; and their desires granted. But now the Case is quite ...

— His Majesties Declaration Defended • John Dryden

... butterflies, Broke, to-day, from their winter shroud; These light airs, that winnow the skies, Blow, just born, ...

— Poetical Works of William Cullen Bryant - Household Edition • William Cullen Bryant

... his spirit is not ignoble. To him it may not be given "to fan and winnow from the coming step of Time the chaff of custom;" but if he persevere he may confidently hope that his thought and love shall at length rise to fairer and more enduring worlds. He weds himself to things of light, seeks aids to true life within, learns to live ...

— Education and the Higher Life • J. L. Spalding

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