Middle English Dictionary Entry
main n.
Entry Info
| Forms | main n. Also maine, mein(e, mene & (early) mæine, mæigne, mægen, mæȝan, (early sg. gen.) mæȝenes, mæȝnæ, (early sg. dat.) mæȝne & (?errors) mænȝ, mænȝen. Pl. maines & (early) main, mæȝenæ, mæȝenu, mæȝnu, (early pl. gen.) mæȝene, (early pl. dat.) mainen, mæȝenum, meȝenum. |
| Etymology | OE mægen (Merc. megen); pl. mægen, mæg(e)nu. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Physical strength, vigor; might and ~, ~ ne (no) might; muchel of ~; (b) royal or political power, authority; (c) military might; also, troops, reinforcements; (d) force, application of force; don ~; (e) in adverbial phrases: mid ~, mid al (his, here) ~, mid muchel (more) ~, with (gret, here) ~, with al (the, his, thi, etc.) ~, with might and ~, with ~ and (with) might.
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)30093 : Heore maines heo uondeden wel ueole siðen.
- a1300 A Mayde Cristes (Jes-O 29)69 : Hwer is..Ector wiþ his scharpe meyne, & cesar, riche of wordes feo?
- ?a1300 Maximian (Dgb 86)97 : Mi main þat wes so strong..Ibrout hit is to grounde.
- ?c1335 Elde makiþ me (Hrl 913)p.171 : Ispend and marrit is mi main.
- ?c1335 Swet ihc hend (Hrl 913)p.83 : Whan þou liste in bere itiȝte..Nastou noþer main no miȝte.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)218 : Þes were in þisse bataile of mest miȝt & mayn.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)4632 : Þo bispac him child Wawain, Whom Crist ȝaf boþe miȝt & main.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)7192 : Þe philistiens..hight..Gyftes..for to frain Quar was sampson might and mayn [Frf: strenght and mayne].
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)2681 : Þre þousande kniȝttes..Wiȝth of mayn and stronge bones.
- a1425(c1333-52) Minot Poems (Glb E.9)4/85 : All if his men war mekill of maine, Euer þai douted þam of gile.
- a1425(?c1350) Ywain (Glb E.9)658 : Syr Ywayne On his felow kyd his mayne.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)1.969 : Ley hir [the tortoise] doun vpright..that mayn Hir lakke agayn to turne hir silf dounright [L ne possit inuerti].
- a1450 When adam delf (Cmb Dd.5.64)32 : Þi ble sa bryght, þi mayn, þi myght..Al mon als was to powder passe.
- a1450(a1425) Mirk IPP (Cld A.2:Peacock)1152 : Hast þow in wraþþe any mon slayn Or holpe þer-to by thy mayn?
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)13811 : Yf he ware mekyll of mayn, he sayd goddes myȝt was more.
- c1450(a1400) Libeaus (Clg A.2)178 : Þou schalt sende a chyld..To dele þoȝty dent, And haste knyȝtes of mayn.
- a1500(a1400) Libeaus (Lamb 306)545 : He ne had mayne ne myght To fyght agaynes his foo.
- a1500(?a1400) Morte Arth.(2) (Hrl 2252)3797 : Sir lyonell, that was mekyll of mayne..To seche hys lord he was full fayne.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)60/122 : Thider shall he ren agane, As gyant of mych mayne.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)8097 : Aȝeinst God had he no mayn More þan an ampte had him aȝayn.
b
- a1400 SMChron.(Add 19677)903 : He was a man of muchel mayne; He regnede four & þrytti ȝer.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)174 : I meue also Masadoyne in my mykyl mayne, Frauns, Flaundrys, and Freslonde.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)507 : To Rome þe regnance fallyþ Boþe þe myȝt & þe mayn..& lord suþ [read: lordchipe] of eche londe.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)151/6 : Of mayn and of myght I master every man.
- a1475 PPl.A(1) (Hrl 875)1.150 : Myȝtful of mayn [Trin-C: Þeiȝ ȝe ben miȝty to mote, beþ mek of ȝour werkis].
- a1500(?c1400) EToulouse (Cmb Ff.2.38)14 : Þere was in Almayn An Emperrour of moche mayn.
c
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)8999 : Willam courtehese he made of þe verste wardein, & in þe oþer bihinde he was him sulf mid al is main.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)4296 : Of þe king Alain No worþ ous noiþer help no main, For he liþ sike.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)4000 : O þis gret aght..I sal gret fern be-for me sent, For ar he þe half o þaa haa slayn, He sal be matid of his main.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)1294 : Ȝif Darrie haueþ þorouȝ his meynes Don Philippe, my fader, wrong; Jch am elde ynouȝ and strong Aȝeins Darrie hym so to wreke.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)1310 : Sone wil he daunten þine meyn.
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)323 : Bot Wolstone..Aȝeynestode hym wt gret strenthe and mayne.
- c1450(c1350) Alex.& D.(Bod 264)663 : A god mihtful of main Martis ȝe holden.
d
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)7114 : In a lyoun mouþ he fande..a bike of bes..and dede þai ware wiþ-outen mayne.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)1615 : Michel hij duden her meyn, Þe walles to fellen on þe pleyn.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)3067 : Take we mayne in oure honde, And dryue we hym out of londe.
- c1450(a1400) Libeaus (Clg A.2)1323 : An ax he hente boun..And smot a strok of mayn Þoruȝ Maugys stedes swyre.
e
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)1917 : Corineus..hine fusde mid mæine aduneward þa clude.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)26006 : Heo..stiȝen up þan hulle mid allen heore maine.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)26628 : Þa iseȝen heo..þreo cnihtes ærnen mid allen heore mainen.
- a1300(c1250) Floris (Vit D.3)372 : Vorþ he wende mid al his mayn, Þat he com þer hei boþe leie.
- c1300(c1250) Floris (Cmb Gg.4.27)608 : He..het him go wiþ alle mayn, For to wite whi heo ne come.
- c1300 Lay.Brut (Otho C.13)1465 : He leop..& þane boȝe igrop mid mochelere maine.
- c1300 SLeg.Lucy (LdMisc 108)113 : A þousend men with al heore main on hire gonne drawe.
- a1325 SLeg.Chris.(Corp-C 145)56 : Ichelle þe telle..Wiþ þat þou me serui..þe bet wiþ alle þi main.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)1134,1137 : He smot mid more maine To abbe icloue him al þat heued..þe emperour ne miȝte it out drawe mid al is mayn.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)1535 : Þe white dragoun wiþ gret main Þe rede drof..& þe rede adoun cast.
- c1330(?a1300) Guy(2) (Auch)p.426 : Sadok..clepd him fiz a putayn & smot him wiþ miȝt and main.
- c1330 KTars (Auch)60/1148 : He rode to him wiþ mayn.
- c1330 Otuel (Auch)790 : He rood to roulond wiþ gret mayn, & bar a spere greet & long.
- c1390(c1350) NHom.(2) PSanct.(Vrn)95/219 : Caym and Joaad vnwyse Striuen euere wiþ heore Mayn Þe holi Apostles aȝayn.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)933 : Vche on oþere wiþ grete mayn, Tobrusten her launces in þe playn.
- a1425(?c1350) Ywain (Glb E.9)663 : Fast he fled with al hys mayne.
- a1425(a1400) Titus & V.(Pep 2014)169 : Anoþer toke a fullyng-staffe..He smote him þere with so gret mayn, That in þe temple he shadde his brayn.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)4037 : Oure ffolk..Wiþ egre mayn gaff hem bekyr.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)5825 : He..frusshit at Philmene..With all the might & the mayn þat the mon hade.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)7815 : Þe grekis..& þe..troiens Mettyn with mayne þaire myghtis to kythe.
- c1475(?c1425) Avow.Arth.(Tay 9:French&Hale)504 : On werre hase he þus wonnen me, With mayn and wyth myȝte.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)2.B.1454 : Elies sones were slayn, And the arke was take fro hem with might and mayn.
- c1475 Brm.Abraham (Brm)123 : Now, Ysaac, son, goo we owr wey Onto ȝon mownte, wyth all owr mayn.
- a1500(a1400) Ipom.(1) (Chet 8009)1651 : Kepe it well, for any þinge, Wyth myghte and all thy mayne!
- c1450(a1400) Libeaus (Clg A.2)479 : Lybeaus, wyth myȝt and mayne, Felde hym flat adowun.
- c1450(a1400) Libeaus (Clg A.2)2078 : Sche rod wyth mayn and myȝt.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)47/233 : Angell, hy with all thi mayn! To abraham thou shall be sent.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)163/101 : Tell me, Ioseph, with mayn youre red.
- c1450 Eglam.(Clg A.2)755 : 'Þe dragon ys sleyn!' Tha has a knyȝt don with all his mayn, Wurthely, per ma fay!
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)1731 : Wynd blowing wiþ al þe mayn, Whi deieþ it for a shour of rayn?
- ?a1525(?a1475) Play Sacr.(Dub 652)512 : Now set on, felouse, with mayne and myght, And pluke hys armes awey in fyght.
- c1600(c1350) Alex.Maced.(Grv 60)284 : Aswage hee ne sholde With all þe maine þat hee might too merken hem care.
2.
(a) Strength of mind or will; moral force; might (mod) and ~; don (al) his ~, to try one's best [see also don v. 1c. (a)]; (b) ability, capacity; also, of a plant, medicine: virtue, efficacy; (c) a virtue; (d) in adverbial phrases: with ~, with ~ and might (mod), with ~ with might, with might and ~, in mod and ~, mid al (oure) ~, with al (his, mi, etc.) ~, with al his might and ~, earnestly, with the utmost force.
Associated quotations
a
- a1150(c1125) Vsp.D.Hom.Fest.Virg.(Vsp D.14)16/25 : Marie..wæs fæstlice betrymed mid mæigne unwæmmes mægeðhades.
- c1175(OE) Bod.Hom.Dom.Quadr.(Bod 343)42/12 : Ðeo andetnes..is læcedom ure mæȝnæ mid reowsunge.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)14363 : Al his mod & his main halde to þan mæidene.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)36/9 : Þet mein of hare heorte mealteð þurh þe heate, & forwurðeð hare wit.
- c1225 St.Juliana (Roy 17.A.27)48/417 : He sende me mihte & mein from þe heouene, me forto helpen.
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)1076 : Quen he had his broþer slayne to hide him he dide his mayne.
- a1425(?c1350) Ywain (Glb E.9)1452 : Syr Gawayn did al his mayne To pray Sir Ywaine..Forto wende with þam infere.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)225 : Pray hym..for to grant vs might & maine..Þat we..be worthi.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)275 : Of þe deuel haue þai no drede For god makes þam so mekli of mayne, And stalworth to stand him a-gayne.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)2141 : If scho do wrang Or maynten it not with hir mayine, Al wil þai witnes hir ogayne.
b
- ?a1200(OE) Hrl.HApul.(Hrl 6258B:Berberich)83.27/1 : Þeos wyrt..is twera cynna..æȝþer hafeð strang mæȝan.
- ?a1200(OE) Hrl.HApul.(Hrl 6258B:Berberich)92.48/2 : Sile drincan, & ðu wundrast þæs mæȝenes ðisse wyrte.
- ?a1200(OE) Hrl.HApul.(Hrl 6258B:Berberich)101.67/1 : Þeos wyrt mandragora hys fremful..hure mænȝen ys sa mycel.
- ?a1200(OE) Hrl.HApul.(Hrl 6258B:Berberich)118.98/2 : Te precor, uica peruica..ut venias ad me hylaris florens cum tuis virtutibus..þat þu..cume mid þinum mæȝenum blowende.
- ?a1200(?OE) PDidax.(Hrl 6258b)11/26 : Wyl on an niwen crocen næs to swiðe, ðe læsse þe ele his mænȝ [L virtus] forleosen.
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)760 : Ich kan craft & ich kan liste..Ich kan wit & song manieine, Ne triste ich to non oþer maine.
- c1330(?a1300) Tristrem (Auch)1581 : Sche com wiþ adrink of main.
- a1425(?c1350) Ywain (Glb E.9)1865 : Þan sho..gaf him mete and drink of main, Til he had geten his might ogayn.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)161/123 : Yf all þe liste to lere þe lawe, Þou arte nowthir of myght ne mayne To kenne it as a clerke may knawe.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)7924 : Þan is þe seed feble and veyne, And to engendre haþ no mayne.
c
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)58/10 : Gif we þenne ðas six mæȝnu healdæþ..þone wunæþ God mid us.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)88/10 : Þeo sawlæ ðihð on meȝenum.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)90/29 : Witerlice meteȝung is alræ mæȝene moder.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)92/1 : Ðas feower mæȝenæ habbæð ænne kynehelm.
d
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)122/24 : Uten we nu mid alle ure heorte, & mid alle ure mæȝne, cyrren to ure Drihten.
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)123 : Luuian we hine mid alre heorte, mid alre saulen, mid alle mode, mid alle meine [L fortitudine].
- a1425(?c1375) NHom.(3) Leg.(Hrl 4196)57/60 : And þat ilk figure of þe rode Honurde þai with mayn and mode.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)4326 : He saide 'In manus' with mayne one molde whare he ligges, And thus passes his speryt.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)52.484 : I Me strengthe with Al my Mayn..to Maken good Contenaunce.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)929 : Al if þe wark be..greuus..Ȝet sal þai sone assent þer-to, And do it wele with al our mayn.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)163/162 : Whoso ther two fulfilles then With mayne and myght in gode manere, He trulye fulfillis all þe ten.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)414/331 : He rose with mayne and mode And wente his way.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)10530 : Þei went and dyd deuocion to þat mawment with myȝt and mayn.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)17858 : Þe fend..manast hym with all his mayn.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)4565 : It lyked him to Cuthberts comandement to do With all his myght and mayne.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)50/240 : I thank þe, lord in hevyn..with hert, with thought, with mayn, with myght.
- a1475 Siege Troy(1) (Hrl 525)166/81 : [T]he kyng of troye..comondeth with myght and mayn That þei shuld seyle Swythe a-geyn.
- a1500(a1400) Ipom.(1) (Chet 8009)1632 : In armus he toke hym vp agayne And comfortted hym wyth all his mayne.
- a1500(?c1450) Florence (Cmb Ff.2.38:Vietor)291 : He lyste not to lawe But mornyd in mode and mayne.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)32/310 : Therfor with all oure mayn, thank we that fre.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)190/134 : Who so fulfylles thise two then with mayn and mode..he fulfyllys truly all ten.
- a1500 Ihesu þt was borne (Adv)20 : Mony a gud mon has ben slene; Me thynke þat konsyons schuld hom ken to pray for pes with all þer mene.
3.
Supernatural or preternatural power or authority; ~ and mod, might and ~; etc.; hevenli ~, a heavenly power, a god.
Associated quotations
- c1175(?OE) HRood (Bod 343)4/12 : Ȝyf..ða ȝyrden from gode isende wæron..þurh heoræ mægen þeo bitternesse..to swetnysse iwend wære.
- c1175(?OE) HRood (Bod 343)16/6,19 : Yfele cwæde ðu þæt ðu þa halȝæn mæȝne to ȝyrdon næmdest..Mucele beoð þa mæȝenu ðe þu mid þe ferest.
- c1175(?OE) HRood (Bod 343)20/19 : Ic mote beon fuliȝende..þam halȝæn mæȝene þe me..ihæled hæfð.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)3447 : Heo swor..bi al heuenliche main, þat ne sculde he habben mare bute enne kincte þere.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)28/4 : Merren wið his muchele mein þe mihte [Roy: mihte þe mein] of þi meiðhad.
- a1275 Louerd asse þu ard (Trin-C B.14.39)297 : Wt of helle he stei wid suiþe muchel main.
- c1350 Heile sterne (Bod 425)6 : Thurght gabrols mough and maine.
- c1390 Castle Love(1) (Vrn)1481 : Þe forme mon..Brouȝt vs werre..Þat oþer mon from heuene com wiþ meyn And haþ iȝolden vre pees aȝeyn.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)6.90 : Bot love is of so gret a main..Ther mai nothing his miht withstonde.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)22799 : Quen godd will sua..Ne moght he not..wit his main O þat ilk erth mak flexs again?
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)18.316 : Rex glorie..And lorde of myȝte & of mayne & al manere vertues; dominus virtutum.
- a1425(?c1350) Ywain (Glb E.9)3 : Almyghti God..schilde his s[ervan]des..And mayntene [þa]m with might and mayne.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)470/153 : His myght, with mayne and mode, May comforte all man-kynde.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)11363 : He sall be prophett playn, wysest when þou ert wentt, And man full mekyll of mayn to mustur myn entent.
4.
?In place names [see Smith PNElem. 2.32].
Associated quotations
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