main

1. not comparableOf chief or leading importance; prime, principal.First known use 15th c.

   The main office is actually one of the smaller rooms.

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   Religion direct us rather to ſecure inward peace than outward eaſe, to be more careful to avoid everlaſting and intolerable torment than ſhort and light afflictions which are but for a moment; […] In a word, our main intereſt is to be as happy as we can, and as long as is poſſible; and if we be caſt into ſuch circumſtances, that we muſt be either in part and for a time or elſe wholly and always miſerable, the beſt wiſdom is to chuſe the greateſt and moſt laſting happiness, but the leaſt and ſhorteſt miſery.

   1664, John Tillotson, “Sermon I. The Wisdom of Being Religious. Job XXVIII. 28.”, in The Works of the Most Reverend Dr. John Tillotson, Late Lord Archbishop of Canterbury: […], London: […] B. Aylmer, […]; [a]nd W. Rogers, […], published 1696, →OCLC

   With some of it on the south and more of it on the north of the great main thoroughfare that connects Aldgate and the East India Docks, St. Bede's at this period of its history was perhaps the poorest and most miserable parish in the East End of London.

   1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter VII, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC, page 77

   By one o'clock the place was choc-a-bloc. […] The restaurant was packed, and the promenade between the two main courts and the subsidiary courts was thronged with healthy-looking youngish people, drawn to the Mecca of tennis from all parts of the country.

   1935, [George Goodchild], chapter 5, in Death on the Centre Court; a McLean Mystery, London: Hodder and Stoughton, →OCLC

2. not comparableChief, most important, or principal in extent, size, or strength; consisting of the largest part.

   main timbers

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   main branch of a river

   main body of an army

   Not uninvented that, which thou aright / Beleivſt ſo main to our ſucceſs, I bring; […]

   1667, John Milton, “Book VI”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, lines 470–471

   The dawn of the oil age was fairly recent. Although the stuff was used to waterproof boats in the Middle East 6,000 years ago, extracting it in earnest began only in 1859 after an oil strike in Pennsylvania. […] It was used to make kerosene, the main fuel for artificial lighting after overfishing led to a shortage of whale blubber. Other liquids produced in the refining process, too unstable or smoky for lamplight, were burned or dumped.

   2013 August 3, “The Future of Oil: Yesterday’s fuel”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8847, archived from the original on 01 Aug 2013

   Synonyms: largest

3. archaicnot comparableusuallystrengthFull, sheer, undivided.First known use 16th c.

   […] I shall never forget the diabolical sneer which writhed Rashleigh's wayward features, as I was forced from the apartment by the main strength of two of these youthful Titans.

   1817 December 31 (indicated as 1818), [Walter Scott], chapter XII, in Rob Roy. […], volume I, Edinburgh: […] James Ballantyne and Co. for Archibald Constable and Co. […]; London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, →OCLC, page 281

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   Wounded and overthrown, the Britons continued their resistance, clung round the legs of the Norman steeds, and cumbered their advance; while their brethren, thrusting with pikes, proved every joint and crevice of the plate and mail, or grappling with the men-at-arms, strove to pull them from their horses by main force, or beat them down with their bills and Welch hooks.

   1825 June 22, [Walter Scott], chapter IV, in Tales of the Crusaders. […], volume I (The Betrothed), Edinburgh: […] [James Ballantyne and Co.] for Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co., →OCLC, page 71

4. dialectalnot comparableBig; angry.
5. not comparablenauticalBelonging to or connected with the principal mast in a vessel.
6. not comparableobsoleteGreat in size or degree; important, powerful, strong, vast.

   And now that Current with main Fury ran / (The Stop remov'd that did the Courſe defend) / Unto the full of Miſchief, that began / T' an univerſal Ruin to extend; […]

   1718, Samuel Daniel, “The History of the Civil War. Book V.”, in The Poetical Works of Mr. Samuel Daniel, Author of the English History. […], volume II, London: Printed for R. Gosling, […] W. Mears, […] and J. Browne […], →OCLC, stanza LXXXIX, page 167

comparative more main · superlative most main

1. UKdialectalExceedingly, extremely, greatly, mightily, very, very much.

   Why, it's main jolly to be sure, and all that so fair.

   1778, Richard Brinsley Sheridan, “The Camp: A Musical Entertainment”, in The Dramatic Works of Richard Brinsley Sheridan. With a Memoir of the Author (Dove’s English Classics), London: Printed and published by J. F. Dove, […], published c. 1813–1828, →OCLC, act I, scene ii, page 309

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   Suck[y]. A Draught of Ale, Friend, for I'm main dry. / Pen[elope]. Fie! fie! Niece! Is that Liquor for a young Lady? Don't disparage your Family and Breeding!

   1754, Samuel Foote, “The Knights”, in The Knights. A Comedy, in Two Acts. […], Dublin: Printed by Richard James, […], →OCLC, act II, page 35

   It was main hot, and the windy was open, and I hear that old song comin’ out as clear as clear […]

   1881–1882, Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island, London; Paris: Cassell & Company, published 14 November 1883, →OCLC

present singular third person mains · participle present maining · participle past mained · past mained

1. abbreviationellipsisslangtransitiveEllipsis of mainline (“to inject (a drug) directly into a vein”).
2. transitivegamesTo mainly play a specific character or side, or with specific equipment, during a game.

   He mains the same character as me in that game.

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   What race do you main and what is your favourite race to beat?

   For new players, I recommend maining the dagger and using the axe as a backup weapon.

   Now, full disclosure: I too main Soldier 76 in "Overwatch" (by the way, the term "maining" is parlance for the most-often used character you play in a given game).

   2017 January 25, Dave Smith, “After Weeks of Bugging Him on Twitter, Elon Musk just Told Me His ‘Dark Secret’”, in Business Insider, archived from the original on 30 Mar 2017

3. obsoleteTo convert (a road) into a main or primary road.

   The borough did not have an opportunity of conferring with the County Council, but the County Council requested particulars of district roads in the borough which the Council suggested should be mained.

   1927, The Municipal Journal and Public Works Engineer, volume XXXVI, London: Municipal Journal, →OCLC

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   When a rural district council considers that a highway in its district ought to become a main road by reason of its being a medium of communication between great towns, or a thoroughfare to a railway station, or otherwise, it may apply to the county council for an order "maining" the road under s. 15 of the Highways and Locomotives (Amendment) Act, 1878 (41 & 42 Vict. c. 77), as amended by s. 3 (viii.) of the Local Government Act, 1888 (51 & 52 Vict. c. 41), and the county council may make an order accordingly.

   1904, Arthur Underhill, Charles Otto Blagden, et al., editors, An Encyclopaedia of Forms and Precedents Other than Court Forms, volume 6, London: Butterworth, →OCLC

plural mains

1. That which is chief or principal; the chief or main portion; the bulk, the greater part, gross.

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   Antiochus […] thought it a proper time for him to attempt the recovery of Syria; and Hermias his prime Miniſter preſſed hard for his going in perſon to this war, contrary to the Opinion of Epigenes his General; who thought it chiefly concerned him to ſuppreſs the Rebellion of Alexander and Molon in the East; and therefore adviſed him to march immediately in perſon with the main of his Army for the ſubduing of thoſe Rebels, before they ſhould gather greater ſtrength in the revolted Provinces againſt him.

   1718, Humphrey Prideaux, The Old and New Testaments Connected in the History of the Jews and Neighbouring Nations, from the Declension of the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah to the Time of Christ, 3rd edition, volume II, part I, London: Printed for R. Knaplock […] and J[acob] Tonson […], →OCLC, part II, book II, page 96

   But the King [Henry VII of England], […] preferring his affection to his own line and blood, […] resolved to rest upon the title of Lancaster as the main, and to use the other two, that of marriage, and that of battle, but as supporters, the one to appease secret discontents, and the other to beat down open murmur and dispute; […]

   1803, Francis Bacon, “The History of the Reign of King Henry the Seventh”, in The Works of Francis Bacon, Baron of Verulam, Viscount St. Alban, and Lord High Chancellor of England. In Ten Volumes, volume V, London: Printed for J. Johnson [et al.]; […], →OCLC, page 8

   1. video gamesThe primary character that one plays in a video game in which one can play more than one character.

      My WoW main has reached level cap and I’m on my way getting my first alt there as well.

      Antonyms: alt

   2. InternetA main account.

      His main got banned after his last post.

      Antonyms: alt

2. A large cable or pipe providing utility service to an area or a building, such as a water main or electric main.First known use 17th c.

   There's a gas leak in the main outside the building.

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   [T]he Contract with the Pipe-water Pavior was, as he recollects, to keep the Pavement in Repair for ſix Weeks; did oblige the Contractor to repair many Places in that ſix Weeks; there was a Part of the new Main failed in Dame-ſtreet; was obliged to take up three or four Pieces in Length, in conſequence of a Sewer being made there, which undermined the Main, and put it out of its Place; […]

   1778 April 3, “Appendix. Report from the Committee on the State of the Pavements, &c. in the Streets of Dublin”, in The Journals of the House of Commons, of the Kingdom of Ireland, […], volume XX, Dublin: Printed by Abraham Bradley and Abraham Bradley King, […], published 1782, →OCLC, page 539

   [T]he Board would have put down, and indeed have ordered, hydrants where the water companies have put down new mains, or at all events are quite prepared upon those new mains to fix hydrants.

   1876 June 19, Guildford Barker Richardson (interviewee), “Mr. Guildford Barker Richardson, Called in; and further Examined”, in Report from the Select Committee on the Metropolis Gas (Surrey Side) Bill; together with the Proceedings of the Committee, and Minutes of Evidence (Reports from Committees: Seven Volumes; 4), volume XI, [London]: Ordered, by the House of Commons, to be printed, published 28 July 1876, →OCLC, paragraph 4780, page 335

3. abbreviationellipsisinformalEllipsis of main course (“the principal dish of a meal”).

   I had scampi and chips for my main and a slice of cheesecake for dessert.

4. poeticThe high seas.First known use 16th c.

   And like some pirate sailor / We crossed the Spanish Main

   1975, Keith Reid of Procul Harum, Pandora's Box (lyrics)

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   Who ſhall him rew, that ſwimming in the maine, / Will die for thriſt, and water doth refuſe? / Refuſe ſuch fruitleſſe toile, and preſent pleaſures chuſe.

   1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto VI”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 17, page 261

   The God, inſulting with ſuperiour Strength, / Fell heavy on him, plung'd him in the Sea, / And, with the Stern, the Rudder tore away, / Headlong he fell, and, ſtrugling in the Main, / Cry'd out for helping hands, but cry'd in vain: […]

   1697, Virgil, “The Fifth Book of the Æneis”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, page 360, lines 1115–1119

   Wanton god of am'rous fires, / Wishes, sighs and soft desires, / All nature's sons thy laws maintain; / O'er liquid air, firm land, and swelling main, / Extend thy uncontroul'd and boundless reign.

   c. 1744, Thomas Broughton (libretto), George Frideric Handel (music), “Hercules: An Oratorio”, in The Miscellaneous Pieces, as Set to Music, of Geo. Fred. Handel. […], part II, London: Printed for T. Heptinstall, […], published 1799, →OCLC, part the second [Act II, scene iv], page 53

   My love, and native land, fareweel! / For I maun cross the main...

   1796, “It Was A' For Our Rightful King”, Robert Burns (lyrics)

   The Sons of Mary seldom bother, for they have inherited that good part; / But the Sons of Martha favour their Mother of the careful soul and the troubled heart, / […] / It is their care that the wheels run truly; it is their care to embark and entrain, / Tally, transport, and deliver duly the Sons of Mary by land and main.

   1907, Rudyard Kipling, “The Sons of Martha”, in Rudyard Kipling’s Verse: Inclusive Edition 1885–1918, London: Hodder and Stoughton Ltd., published 1927, →OCLC, pages 436–437

5. USarchaicdialectalThe mainland.First known use 16th c.

   No man is an Iland, intire of it ſelfe; euery man is a peece of the Continent, a part of the maine; […]

   1624, John Donne, “17. Meditation”, in Deuotions upon Emergent Occasions, and Seuerall Steps in My Sicknes: […], London: […] A[ugustine] M[atthews] for Thomas Iones, →OCLC, pages 415–416

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   In the year that followed of 1589, we gave the Spaniards no breath, but turned challengers, invaded the main of Spain. In which enterprize, although we failed of our end, which was to ſettle Don Antonio in the kingdom of Portugal, yet a man ſhall hardly meet with an action that doth better reveal the great ſecret of the power of Spain: […]

   1624, Francis Bacon, “Considerations Touching a War with Spain. Inscribed to Prince Charles, An. 1624.”, in The Works of Francis Bacon, Baron of Verulam, Viscount St. Alban, and Lord High Chancellor of England, volume III, London: Printed for J[ohn] Walthoe, […], published 1740, →OCLC, page 526

   The higheſt land on the mayne, yet it was but low, we called Keales hill, and theſe vninhabited Iſles, Ruſſels Iſles.

   1624, Anthony Bagnall, Nathanaell Powell, Anas Todkill, “Chapter V. The Accidents that Hapned in the Discovery of the Bay of Chisapeack”, in Iohn [i.e., John] Smith, The Generall Historie of Virginia, New-England, and the Summer Isles: […], London: […] I[ohn] D[awson] and I[ohn] H[aviland] for Michael Sparkes, →OCLC, 3rd booke, page 56

   Tashtego's long, lean, sable hair, his high cheek bones, and black rounding eyes— […] all this sufficiently proclaimed him an inheritor of the unvitiated blood of those proud warrior hunters, who, in quest of the great New England moose, had scoured, bow in hand, the aboriginal forests of the main.

   1851 November 14, Herman Melville, “Knights and Squires”, in Moby-Dick; or, The Whale, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers; London: Richard Bentley, →OCLC, page 131

6. abbreviationellipsisnauticalEllipsis of mainsail.First known use 17th c.
7. obsoleteexcept in might and mainForce, power, strength, violent effort.First known use 9th c.

   For with ſuch puiſſance and impetuous maine / Thoſe Champions broke on them, that forſt the fly, / Like ſcattered Sheepe, whenas the Shepherds ſwaine / A Lyon and a Tigre doth eſpye, / With greedy pace forth ruſhing from the foreſt nye.

   1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto IX”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 14, page 311

plural mains

1. obsoletegamesA hand or match in a game of dice.

   1876, Charles Dickens, All the Year Round That no minute might be wasted, the gay gallants of the time generally had a dice-box and a cast of dice in their pockets. This was convenient in the extreme, as, in the intervals of racing, a main could be thrown […]

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   That writing is but juſt like dice, / And lucky mains make people wiſe: / That jumbled words, if fortune throw 'em, / Shall, well as Dryden, form a poem; […]

   1689 May 14, Mr. Prior [Matthew Prior?], “Epistle to Fleetwood Shephard, Esq.”, in “Mr. Gentleman” [pseudonym], The New Pleasing Instructor: Or, Entertaining Moralist. […], York, Yorkshire: Printed by C. Etherington, for John Bell, […] and C. Etherington, […], published 1772, →OCLC, page 370

   Well-for the rest, will you throw a main?

   1894, Stanley J. Weyman, chapter VIII, in Under the Red Robe

2. obsoletegamesThe largest throw in a match at dice; in the game of hazard, a number from one to nine called out by a person before the dice are thrown.

   Euery man hath not beene brought vp in the knowledge of toungs. And it chanceth often to the reader, as it doth to diceplayers, that gaine more by the bye then by the maine.

   1598, Richard Barckley, “To the Reader”, in A Discourse of the Felicitie of Man: Or His Summum Bonum, London: Printed [by Richard Field] for VVilliam Ponsonby, →OCLC; republished as “To the Reader”, in A Discovrse of the Felicite of Man. Or His Summum Bonum, newly corrected and augmented edition, London: Printed [by James Roberts] for VVilliam Ponsonby, 1603, →OCLC

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   I had such a run of luck last night, with five for the main, and seven to five all night, until those ruffians wanted to pay me with Altamont’s bill upon me. The luck turned from that minute. Never held the box again for three mains, and came away cleared out, leaving that infernal cheque behind me.

   1848 November – 1850 December, William Makepeace Thackeray, chapter 44, in The History of Pendennis. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1849–1850, →OCLC

3. obsoletegamesA stake played for at dice.

   [W]ere it good / To ſet the exact wealth of al our ſtates / Al at one caſt? to ſet ſo rich a maine / On the nice hazard of one doubtfull houre?

   Is it good / To bet all of our wealth / On one throw of the dice? To place so high a stake / On the risky hazard of one doubtful hour?

   c. 1597 (date written), [William Shakespeare], The History of Henrie the Fourth; […], quarto edition, London: […] P[eter] S[hort] for Andrew Wise, […], published 1598, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i]

4. obsoletegamesA sporting contest or match, especially a cockfighting match.

   My lord was hunting all day when the ſeaſon admitted; he frequented all the cockfights and fairs in the country, and would ride twenty miles to ſee a main fought, or two clowns break their heads at a cudgelling match; […]

   1852, William Makepeace Thackeray, “After Good Fortune Comes Evil”, in The History of Henry Esmond, Esq. […] , volume I, London: […] Smith, Elder, & Company, […], →OCLC, page 171

5. A banker's shovel for coins.

plural mains

1. obsoleterareA basket for gathering grapes.

   A main [hamper] Corbis vindemiatorius

   [1751, Robert Ainsworth, Samuel Patrick, “A main”, in Thesaurus Linguæ Latinæ Compendiarius: Or, A Compendious Dictionary of the Latin Tongue: […], 3rd edition, London: Printed by C. and J. Ackers, for W[illiam] Mount and T[homas] Page [et al.], →OCLC, column 1

1. A river in southern Germany, flowing from Bavaria to the Rhine.

1. A river in Northern Ireland, flowing into Lough Neagh.

1. A surname.

1. abbreviationellipsisEllipsis of Main Street, a street named "Main Street".

plural Mains

1. abbreviationellipsisEllipsis of Main Street (“main street”), a central street of a community.