WINNOWS
Verb
winnows
Third-person singular simple present indicative form of winnow
Noun
winnows
plural of winnow
Source: Wiktionary
WINNOW
Win"now, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Winnowed; p. pr. & vb. n. Winnowing.]
Etym: [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.
Win"now, v. i.
Definition: To separate chaff from grain.
Winnow not with every wind. Ecclus. v. 9.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition