main
/meɪn/
adjective
Origin
Proto-Germanic
maginą — strength, power
Overview
Meaning Now
- Chief in size, extent, or importance; principal.
- Physical force or strength, especially when exerted to the full.
Literal older meaning
Strength, power, or force.
Language path
Proto-Germanic → Old English → Middle English → English
Earliest form
mægen
Earliest period
Old English
Journey
The word originally denoted physical force or power, a sense preserved in the archaic phrase 'might and main'. Through semantic broadening, it evolved to describe that which is the most significant or 'strongest' part of a whole.
Evolution
- Proto-Germanic
maginą
“strength, force”
- Old English
mægen
“strength, physical power, virtue”
- Middle English
mayn
“great strength, chief part”
Influenced by Old French 'magne' (large) in some usage contexts.
- Modern English
main
“principal; primary”
Connections
Word parts
main
root
strength or principal
Related across languages
Old Norse
megin
strength, power
German
Mögen
to like/may (related verb)
Explore next
Related to main
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.