Win"now (win"nO), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Winnowed (-nOd); 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., 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 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.
© Webster 1913
Win"now (?), v. i.
To separate chaff from grain.
Winnow not with every wind.
Ecclus. v. 9.
© Webster 1913