main English · revision 3587

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 725 (Old English mægen-, Beowulf)|origins=gem-pro *maginą}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /meɪn/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|main]], [[inh|ang|mægen|t=power, bodily strength, force]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002) from [[gem-pro|*maginą|t=power]],^(Etymonline) formed from the Germanic base meaning “to have power” that gave [[may]].^(SOED 2002)^(Hoad 1986)^(Barnhart 1988) Etymonline traces it to [[ine-pro|*magh-|t=to be able, have power]].^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) The adjective comes from the combining form [[m|ang|mægen-]] in Old English compounds such as [[m|ang|mægenstrengo|t=great strength]],^(Hoad 1986)^(Etymonline) partly influenced by the related [[non|megenn|t=strong, powerful]].^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)^(COED 2004)^(Barnhart 1988) Its cognates include [[osx|megin]] and [[goh|magan|t=strength]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Physical strength or force: Old English ''mægen'';^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) the adjective appears in Old English compounds in ''Beowulf'', about 725.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The original sense of the noun survives only in ''with might and main''.^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) In Old English ''mægen'' also meant a host or military force.^(OED 1989) The adjective meant “large, strong” in the early 13th century, and probably before 1200 in Layamon,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) a sense now obsolete except in ''by main force''.^(SOED 2002) “Chief, principal” is from about 1400,^(Etymonline) or 1480 in the Historical Thesaurus,^(HTOED) and “chief in size or extent” from the 1590s.^(Etymonline) The noun came to mean the mainland from 1555,^(OED 1989) the open ocean from 1579,^(OED 1989) the chief part of something from about 1600,^(Etymonline) and the principal pipe for water or gas later still.^(AHD) ''The main chance'', from the game of hazard, is from the 1570s,^(Etymonline) and ''main course'' at a meal from 1829.^(Etymonline) The ''Spanish Main'' is named from 1890 in the OED's record.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 725 – Old English ''mægen-'' in compounds (''Beowulf'').^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * before 1200 – adjective, outstanding in size (Layamon).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1400 – adjective, chief, principal.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1555 – the mainland.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1570s – ''the main chance''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1579 – the open sea.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1600 – the chief part.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1829 – ''main course''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Most important; [[principal]].^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # Exerted to the utmost; sheer: ''by main force''.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # ''(grammar)'' Of the principal [[clause]] of a sentence.^(AHD)

+ # ''(nautical)'' Of or near the [[mainmast]].^(AHD)^(HTOED)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # The principal pipe or line in a system carrying water, gas or electricity.^(AHD)

+ # The chief or largest part: ''in the main''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Physical strength: ''with might and main''.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # ''(archaic)'' The mainland, or the open [[ocean]].^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[mainsail]]

+ * [[mainly]]

+ * [[mainstream]]

+ * [[mainstay]]

+ * [[mainframe]]

+ * [[amain]]

+ * [[mainer]]

+ * [[mainland]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[may]]

+ * [[might]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Two other nouns ''main'' are rare: one, in Scotland and the north, means a home farm (the ''mains'' of a house), shortened from ''domain'';^(SOED 2002)^(OED 1989) the other, probably from ''main chance'', is a number called in the dice game of hazard and a match between fighting cocks.^(SOED 2002)^(OED 1989)^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}