Mainer
- a native or inhabitant of the state of Maine.
Origin of Mainer
main
1- chief in size, extent, or importance; principal; leading: the company's main office; the main features of a plan.
- sheer; utmost, as strength or force: to lift a stone by main force.
- of or relating to a broad expanse: main sea.
- Grammar. syntactically independent; capable of use in isolation.Compare dependent(def 4), independent(def 14), main clause.
- Nautical.
- Obsolete.
- having or exerting great strength or force; mighty.
- having momentous or important results; significant.
- a principal pipe or duct in a system used to distribute water, gas, etc.
- physical strength, power, or force: to struggle with might and main.
- the chief or principal part or point: The main of their investments was lost during the war.
- Literary. the open ocean; high sea: the bounding main.
- the mainland.
- Usually mains. a main course in a meal: The restaurant offers four mains: one chicken, two beef, and one fish.
- South Midland U.S. (chiefly Appalachian ). very; exceedingly: The dogs treed a main big coon.
- Slang. mainline.
- in the main, for the most part; chiefly: In the main, the novel was dull reading.
Origin of main
1Synonyms for main
Antonyms for main
Related Words for mainer
prime, major, central, preeminent, leading, primary, vital, fundamental, particular, essential, special, entire, head, star, premier, chief, cardinal, capital, necessary, simpleExamples from the Web for mainer
Historical Examples of mainer
Tell us about it, asked Garry, as the three crowded around the old State of Mainer and shook hands with him heartily.
The Ranger Boys Outwit the Timber ThievesClaude A. Labelle
It's no my fawt if they didna—we canna lose the saydel, Saunders; by no mainer of means.
The Cruise of the Midge (Vol. II of 2)Michael Scott
Main
- a river in central and W Germany, flowing west through Würzburg and Frankfurt to the Rhine. Length: about 515 km (320 miles)
main
1- chief or principal in rank, importance, size, etc
- sheer or utmost (esp in the phrase by main force)
- nautical of, relating to, or denoting any gear, such as a stay or sail, belonging to the mainmast
- obsolete significant or important
- a principal pipe, conduit, duct, or line in a system used to distribute water, electricity, etc
- (plural)
- the main distribution network for water, gas, or electricity
- (as modifier)mains voltage
- the chief or most important part or consideration
- great strength or force (now chiefly in the phrase (with) might and main)
- literary the open ocean
- archaic short for Spanish Main
- archaic short for mainland
- in the main or for the main on the whole; for the most part
Word Origin for main
main
2- a throw of the dice in dice games
- a cockfighting contest
- a match in archery, boxing, etc
Word Origin for main
Word Origin and History for mainer
main
Old English mægen (n.) "power, bodily strength, force, efficacy," from Proto-Germanic *maginam "power," suffixed form of PIE root *magh- (1) "be able, have power" (see may (v.)). Original sense preserved in phrase with might and main. Meaning "principal channel in a utility system" is first recorded 1727 in main drain; Used since 1540s for "continuous stretch of land or water." In Spanish Main the word is short for mainland and refers to the coast between Panama and Orinoco.
main
early 13c., "large, bulky, strong," from Old English mægen- "power, strength, force," used in compounds (e.g. mægensibb "great love," mægenbyrðen "heavy burden;" see main (n.)), probably also from or influenced by Old Norse megenn (adj.) "strong, powerful." Sense of "chief" is c.1400. Main course in the meal sense attested from 1829. Main man "favorite male friend; hero" is from 1967, U.S. black slang.
Idioms and Phrases with mainer
main
In addition to the idioms beginning with main
- main drag
- main squeeze
also see:
- eye to the main chance
- in the main
- might and main