mayn
Middle English
Etymology 1
Inherited from Old English mæġen; from Proto-Germanic *maginą; compare Proto-Germanic *maganą (Middle English mowen)
Alternative forms
- (Early ME) mæȝan, mægen, mæine, mæȝen, mæin, mæigne, meȝen
- main, maine, mayne, mein, meyn, meyne
Pronunciation
- (Early ME) IPA(key): /ˈmajən/
- IPA(key): /ˈmɛi̯n/
- Rhymes: -ɛi̯n
Noun
mayn (plural maines)
- Strongness or physical capability.
- Governmental influence and legitimacy; political capability.
- Military ability; power in combat or war.
- Mental capability; mindpower or willpower.
- Effectiveness, power, usefulness, or suitability.
- Divine or magical potency or effect.
- (rare) Pressure; physical leverage.
Derived terms
- mayne londe
- maynly
- meinful
Descendants
- English: main
- Scots: mayne, mayn, main, mane
References
- “main (n.)” in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-08-11.
Adjective
mayn
- Extraordinarily large; gigantic or humongous.
- (rare) Effective, strong, mighty.
- (rare) Strange or uncommon; exceptional.
- (rare) Main; primary, important.
Descendants
- English: main
- Scots: main, mane
References
- “main (adj.)” in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-08-11.
Etymology 2
From Old English manu.
Noun
mayn
- Alternative form of mane