meiny

or mein·ie

[ mey-nee ]

noun,plural mein·ies.
  1. Archaic. a group or suite of attendants, followers, dependents, etc.

  2. Scot. Archaic. a multitude; crowd.

Origin of meiny

1
1250–1300; Middle English meynee household <Old French meyne, mesnie, mesnede<Vulgar Latin *mānsiōnāta.See mansion, -ate1

Words Nearby meiny

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use meiny in a sentence

  • Helca's meiny, that aforetime waited on their mistress, passed many a happy day thereafter at Kriemhild's side.

  • Their noble meiny now brought saddled before the gate the many steeds, and to them came forth thee stranger knights.

  • When brave Dankwart was come within the door, he bade King Etzel's meiny step aside.

  • Uta, the noble dame, and all her meiny mourned bitterly the stately man.

  • Then Kriemhild spied the margravine standing with her meiny.

British Dictionary definitions for meiny

meiny

meinie

/ (ˈmeɪnɪ) /


nounplural meinies obsolete
  1. a retinue or household

  2. Scot a crowd

Origin of meiny

1
C13: from Old French mesnie, from Vulgar Latin mansiōnāta (unattested), from Latin mansiō a lodging; see mansion

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012