amain

amain · adverb¹

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*megʰ-“to be able”
2. Proto-Germanic · inherited from*maginą“might, power, strength”
3. Old English · inherited frommæġen“strength”
4. Middle English · inherited frommayn“strength”
5. English todayamain

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”).

amain · verb²

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*weh₂ǵ-“to cover; sheath”
2. Latin · derived fromin-
3. Vulgar Latin · derived from*invagīnare“to sheathe (a sword); to put away, stow”
4. Italian · derived fromammainare“to lower or reef (a flag, sail, etc.)”
5. Spanish · borrowed fromamainar“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”
6. English todayamain

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.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from 16th c. With all of one's might; mightily; forcefully, violently.
• from 16th c. At full speed; also, in great haste.