Antonyms for wind

Grammar : Noun, verb

Spell : noun wind, Literary wahynd; verb wind

Phonetic Transcription : noun wɪnd, Literary waɪnd; verb wɪnd

Definition of wind

Origin : "air in motion," Old English wind, from Proto-Germanic *wendas (cf. Old Saxon, Old Frisian, Middle Dutch, Dutch wind, Old Norse vindr, Old High German wind, German Wind, Gothic winds), from PIE *we-nt-o- "blowing," from root *we- "to blow" (cf. Sanskrit va-, Greek aemi-, Gothic waian, Old English wawan, Old High German wajan, German wehen, Old Church Slavonic vejati "to blow;" Sanskrit vatah, Avestan vata-, Hittite huwantis, Latin ventus, Old Church Slavonic vetru, Lithuanian vejas "wind;" Lithuanian vetra "tempest, storm;" Old Irish feth "air;" Welsh gwynt, Breton gwent "wind").
Normal pronunciation evolution made this word rhyme with kind and rind (Donne rhymes it with mind), but it shifted to a short vowel 18c., probably from influence of windy, where the short vowel is natural. A sad loss for poets, who now must rhyme it only with sinned and a handful of weak words. Symbolic of emptiness and vanity since late 13c.
I have forgot much, Cynara! gone with the wind. [Ernest Dowson, 1896]
Meaning "breath" is attested from late Old English; especially "breath in speaking" (early 14c.), so long-winded, also "easy or regular breathing" (early 14c.), hence second wind in the figurative sense (by 1830), an image from the sport of hunting.
Figurative phrase which way the wind blows for "the current state of affairs" is suggested from c.1400. To get wind of "receive information about" is by 1809, perhaps inspired by French avoir le vent de. To take the wind out of (one's) sails in the figurative sense (by 1883) is an image from sailing, where a ship without wind can make no progress. Wind-chill index is recorded from 1939. Wind energy from 1976. Wind vane from 1725.

noun air currents
noun warning, report
verb bend, turn

Example sentences :

The spirit of the strong man was moved, and he trembled like a leaf shaken by the wind.
Extract from : « Philothea » by Lydia Maria Child

But the upper edges are ragged, torn by a wind not yet felt below.
Extract from : « The Spenders » by Harry Leon Wilson

The wind was strong from the westward, accompanied with light showers all day.
Extract from : « Explorations in Australia » by John Forrest

It faded soon into a gray fog, with puffs of wind from the southwest again.
Extract from : « Malbone » by Thomas Wentworth Higginson

Now it is a seed upon the wind, taking root in many nations.
Extract from : « United States Presidents' Inaugural Speeches » by Various

The distant sound of a church-clock is borne faintly on the wind.
Extract from : « The Haunted Mind (From "Twice Told Tales") » by Nathaniel Hawthorne

There was no danger of discovery on his approach, for it was a wild night of wind and rain.
Extract from : « Way of the Lawless » by Max Brand

And they came like the wind, yelling at the sight of their quarry.
Extract from : « Way of the Lawless » by Max Brand

Now the wind came like a wolf down the Murchison Pass, howling and moaning.
Extract from : « Way of the Lawless » by Max Brand

The wind was high, but the sun bright, and the snow thawing.
Extract from : « The Exploring Expedition to the Rocky Mountains, Oregon and California » by Brevet Col. J.C. Fremont

Synonyms for wind

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019