Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
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adv
With all of one's might; mightily; forcefully, violently.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic, literary
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
adv
At full speed; also, in great haste.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
adv
Out of control.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: UK, dialectal
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
adv
Exceedingly; overmuch.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To lower (the sail of a ship, particularly the topsail).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete, transitive
Topics: nautical, transport
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To decrease or reduce (something).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: figuratively, obsolete, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To lower the topsail in token of surrender; to yield.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive, obsolete
Topics: nautical, transport
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
adverb
with all your strength
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
adverb
at full speed; with great haste
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
From a- (prefix with the sense ‘at; in; on; with’, used to show a state, condition, or manner) + main (“force, power, strength”). Main is derived from Middle English mayn (“strength”), from Old English mæġen (“strength”), from Proto-Germanic *maginą (“might, power, strength”), *maginaz (“strong”), from Proto-Indo-European *megh- (“to be able”).
Borrowed from Spanish amainar (“to reef a sail (take in part of a sail to adapt its size to the force of the wind); to abate, die down, subside; to ease off, let up; of a person: to calm down, control one’s anger”); further etymology uncertain, probably from a regional Italian (Naples) word (compare Italian ammainare (“to lower or reef (a flag, sail, etc.)”)), from Vulgar Latin *invagīnare (“to sheathe (a sword); to put away, stow”), from Latin in- (prefix meaning ‘in, inside, within’) + vāgīna (“scabbard, sheath; covering, holder; vagina”) (possibly ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *weh2ǵ- (“to cover; sheath”)); this would make it a doublet of invaginate.
Across languages
7 source translations are retained for this English entry.
