Etymology

mainly

M3A1I1N1L1Y4

Today it means: Of a person or thing being the driving force influencing the outcome of an event; chiefly; certainly for the most part. Full definition →

First used 17th c.Middle English maynly
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The story

  1. Middle English · inherited frommaynly
  2. English todaymainly

From Middle English maynly; equivalent to main + -ly.

First known use, by meaning

  • from 17th c. Of a person or thing being the driving force influencing the outcome of an event; chiefly; certainly for the most part.
  • 13th–17th c. Forcefully, vigorously.
  • 14th–19th c. Of the production of a sound: loudly, powerfully.
  • 15th–19th c. To a great degree; very much.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.