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meiny

American  
[mey-nee] / ˈmeɪ ni /
Or meinie

noun

plural

meinies
  1. Archaic. a group or suite of attendants, followers, dependents, etc.

  2. Scot. Archaic. a multitude; crowd.


meiny British  
/ ˈmeɪnɪ /

noun

  1. a retinue or household

  2. a crowd

"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

Etymology

Origin of meiny

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Well know I yon bright meiny, whom here we have at hand; They are the choicest warriors; of th' Amelungers' land.

From The Nibelungenlied Revised Edition by Unknown

IX With that the smiling Kriemhild forth stepp'd a little space, And Brunhild and her meiny greeted with gentle grace.

From The Nibelungenlied Revised Edition by Unknown

Gunther's wife stood before the minster, and the knights dallied in converse with the women, till that Kriemhild came up with her meiny.

From The Fall of the Niebelungs by Armour, Margaret

Then thither with his meiny came Dankrat's haughty son, And thither too grim Hagan; it had been better left undone.

From The Nibelungenlied Revised Edition by Unknown

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

From The Nibelungenlied by Shumway, Daniel Bussier