Quick Definition
κερδαίνω v. I gain, win, avoid loss
Strong's Definition
from 2771; to gain (literally or figuratively)
KJV Usage: (get) gain, win
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
verb | fut. κερδήσω · aor. ἐκέρδησα · subj. κερδήσω, κερδάνω · inf. κερδῆσαι | αἰσχροκερδής · αἰσχροκερδῶς · κέρδος
57.189 · Possess, Transfer, Exchange · Earn, Gain, Do Business
to earn, to gain, to make a profit to gain by means of one’s activity or investment
MAT 16:26 · MAT 18:15 · MAT 25:16 · MAT 25:17 · MAT 25:20 · MAT 25:22 · MRK 8:36 · LUK 9:25 · 1CO 9:19 · 1CO 9:20 · 1CO 9:20 · 1CO 9:21 · 1CO 9:22 · PHP 3:8 · JAS 4:13 · 1PE 3:1
13.137 · Be, Become, Exist, Happen · Happen
to avoid, to cause not to occur to cause a loss not to happen
1 κερδαίνω normally has the meaning of to gain or to make a profit (see κερδαίνω[a], 57.189); however, the avoidance of a loss may also be regarded as a gain.
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
κερδαίνω kerdainō 17x
to gain as a matter of profit, Mt. 25:17; to win, acquire possession of, Mt. 16:26; to profit in the avoidance of, to avoid, Acts 27:21; in NT Χριστόν, to win Christ, to become possessed of the privileges of the Gospel, Phil. 3:8; to win over from estrangement, Mt. 18:15; to win over to embrace the Gospel, 1 Cor. 9:19, 20, 21, 22; 1 Pet. 3:1; absol. to make gain, Jas. 4:13
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
** κερδαίνω,
[in Sm.: Jb 22:3*;]
to gain: c. acc., Mt 25:16, 17, 20, 22; τ. κόσμον, Mt 16:26, Mk 8:36, Lk 9:25; absol., to make profit, get gain: Ja 4:13. Metaph., c. acc. rei, to save oneself from, avoid: Ac 27:21 (Field, Notes, 145); c. acc. pers., to gain, win: Mt 18:15, I Co 9:19-22, Phl 3:8; pass., I Pe 3:1.†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
κερδαίνω is used absolutely, as in Jas 415, in P Oxy XII. 1477} (question to an oracle—iii/iv A.D.) et κερδαίνω ἀπὸ τοῦ πράγματ[ος ; ‘‘am I to profit by the transaction?” (Edd.). Cf. Aristeas 270 ἐπανάγουσι πάντα πρὸς Td κερδαίνειν. For the translation ‘‘and so have been spared this injury and loss” in Ac 277! κερδῆσαί τε τὴν ὕβριν ταύτην καὶ τὴν ζημίαν, see Field JVores, p. 145.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
κερδαίνω (kerdainō) — to gain. κερδ-αίνω, future - ᾰνῶ [Refs 5th c.BC+]; Ionic dialect -ανέω [Refs 5th c.BC+]; κερδήσω [NT+5th c.BC+]: aorist 1 ἐκέρδᾱνα [Refs 5th c.BC+] codices, etc.; Ionic dialect -ηνα [Refs 8th c.BC+]: perfect κεκέρδαγκα [Refs 4th c.BC+]:— passive, aorist participle κερδανθείς [Refs 1st c.BC+]: perfect κεκερδημένος [Refs 1st c.AD+]: (κέρδος):—gain, derive profit or advantage, κακὰ κ. make unfair gains, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; τί κερδαν; what shall I gain? [Refs 5th c.BC+]; κ. τινί gain by a thing, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; κ. λόγον win fame, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; χρηστὰ κ. ἔπη receive fair words, [Refs 5th c.BC+]: with participle, gain by doing.., εἰ δὲ κερδανῶ λέγων [Refs 5th c.BC+]; Μεγάροισι κερδανέομεν περιεοῦσι we shall gain by Megara's preservation, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; also κ. ὅτι.. [Refs 5th c.BC+] —passive, τὰ κερδανθέντα Phld. [prev. cited]
2. absolutely, make profit, gain advantage, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐξ ἅπαντος, ἀπὸ παντός, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; opposed to τὸ τιμᾶσθαι, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; traffic, make merchandise, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
II. in bad sense, reap disadvantage from a thing, διπλᾶ δάκρυα κ. [Refs 5th c.BC+]
III. save or spare oneself, avoid, μεγάλα κακά [NT+4th c.BC+]