MAIN Main, a. Etym: [From Main strength, possibly influenced by OF. maine, magne, great, L. magnus. Cf. Magnate.]
1. Very or extremely strong. [Obs.] That current with main fury ran. Daniel.
2. Vast; huge. [Obs.] "The main abyss." Milton.
3. Unqualified; absolute; entire; sheer. [Obs.] "It's a man untruth." Sir W. Scott.
4. Principal; chief; first in size, rank, importance, etc. Our main interest is to be happy as we can. Tillotson.
5. Important; necessary. [Obs.]
That which thou aright Believest so main to our success, I bring.
Milton.
By main force, by mere force or sheer force; by violent effort; as,
to subdue insurrection by main force.
That Maine which by main force Warwick did win. Shak.
— By main strength, by sheer strength; as, to lift a heavy weight by
main strength.
— Main beam (Steam Engine), working beam.
— Main boom (Naut.), the boom which extends the foot of the
mainsail in a fore and aft vessel.
— Main brace. (a) (Mech.) The brace which resists the chief strain.
Cf. Counter brace. (b) (Naut.) The brace attached to the main yard.
— Main center (Steam Engine), a shaft upon which a working beam or
side lever swings.
— Main chance. See under Chance.
— Main couple (Arch.), the principal truss in a roof.
— Main deck (Naut.), the deck next below the spar deck; the
principal deck.
— Main keel (Naut.), the principal or true keel of a vessel, as
distinguished from the false keel.
Syn.
— Principal; chief; leading; cardinal; capital.
MAIN
Main, adv. Etym: [See Main, a.]
Defn: Very extremely; as, main heavy. "I'm main dry." Foote. [Obs. or
Low]
MAINE
Maine, n.