main

Meanings

Adjective

Adverb

Verb

Noun

Origin

  • From Middle English mayn, main, maine, mæin, meyn, from main (see further at etymology 2); compare Old English mægen- ("strong, main, principal") and Old Norse megn, megenn. The word is cognate with Old High German megīn ("strong, mighty") (modern German Möge, Vermögen), and also akin to Old English magan ("to be able to"). See also may.
  • From Middle English mayn, main, maine, mæine, mæȝen, from Old English mæġen ("strength"), from Proto-Germanic *maginą ("strength, power, might"), *maginaz, from Proto-Indo-European *megʰ- ("be able"). The word is cognate with Old High German magen, megin, Old Norse magn, megn, megin, Old Saxon megin. More recent senses are derived from the adjective.
  • Origin uncertain; probably from the adjective main. Evidence is lacking for a derivation from main.
  • Origin uncertain, possibly from French main ("hand").

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