Winnow

ag-vt1a(1)#ag-vt2a#ag-vi1 1win;now pronunciation: function: verb etymology: middle english winewen, from old english windwian to fan, winnow; akin to old high german wintōn to fan, latin vannus winnowing fan, ventus wind — more at winddate: before 12th centurytransitive verb 1 a (1) : to remove (as chaff) by a current of air (2) : to get rid of (something undesirable or unwanted) : remove —often used with out lt;winnow out certain inaccuracies — stanley walkergt; b (1) : separate, sift lt;an old hand at winnowing what is true and significant — oscar lewisgt; (2) : select2 a : to treat (as grain) by exposure to a current of air so that waste matter is eliminated b : to free of unwanted or inferior elements : pare c : narrow, reduce lt;winnowed the field to four contendersgt;3 : to blow on : fan lt;the wind winnowing his thin white hair — timegt;intransitive verb 1 : to separate chaff from grain by fanning2 : to separate desirable and undesirable elements— win;now;er noun