MAINLY

chiefly, principally, primarily, mainly, in the main

(adverb) for the most part; “he is mainly interested in butterflies”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Etymology

Adverb

mainly (not comparable)

(obsolete) Forcefully, vigorously. [13th-17th c.]

(obsolete) Of the production of a sound: loudly, powerfully. [14th-19th c.]

(obsolete) To a great degree; very much. [15th-19th c.]

Chiefly; for the most part. [from 17th c.]

Synonyms

• (forcefully): energetically, powerfully, strongly

• (loudly): earsplittingly, lustily, raucously, thunderously

• (to a great degree): a lot, extremely

• (for the most part): in the main, principally; see also mostly

Anagrams

• Milyan, aminyl, amylin

Source: Wiktionary

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Main"ly, adv. Etym: [From main strong. See Main strength.]

Definition: Very strongly; mightily; to a great degree. [Obs.] Bacon. Shak.

Main"ly, adv. Etym: [From main principal, chief.]

Definition: Principally; chiefly.

MAIN

Main, n. Etym: [F. main hand, L. manus. See Manual.]

1. A hand or match at dice. Prior. Thackeray.

2. A stake played for at dice. [Obs.] Shak.

3. The largest throw in a match at dice; a throw at dice within given limits, as in the game of hazard.

4. A match at cockfighting. "My lord would ride twenty miles . . . to see a main fought." Thackeray.

5. A main-hamper. [Obs.] Ainsworth.

Main, n. Etym: [AS. mægen strength, power, force; akin to OHG. magan, Icel. megin, and to E. may, v. May, v.]

1. Strength; force; might; violent effort. [Obs., except in certain phrases.] There were in this battle of most might and main. R. of Gl. He 'gan advance, With huge force, and with importable main. Spenser.

2. The chief or principal part; the main or most important thing. [Obs., except in special uses.] Resolved to rest upon the title of Lancaster as the main, and to use the other two . . . but as supporters. Bacon.

3. Specifically: (a) The great sea, as distinguished from an arm, bay, etc. ; the high sea; the ocean. "Struggling in the main." Dryden. (b) The continent, as distinguished from an island; the mainland. "Invaded the main of Spain." Bacon. (c) principal duct or pipe, as distinguished from lesser ones; esp. (Engin.), a principal pipe leading to or from a reservoir; as, a fire main. Forcing main, the delivery pipe of a pump.

– For the main, or In the main, for the most part; in the greatest part.

– With might and main, or With all one's might and main, with all one's strength; with violent effort. With might and main they chased the murderous fox. Dryden.

Main, a. Etym: [From Main strength, possibly influenced by OF. maine, magne, great, L. magnus. Cf. Magnate.]

1. Very or extremely strong. [Obs.] That current with main fury ran. Daniel.

2. Vast; huge. [Obs.] "The main abyss." Milton.

3. Unqualified; absolute; entire; sheer. [Obs.] "It's a man untruth." Sir W. Scott.

4. Principal; chief; first in size, rank, importance, etc. Our main interest is to be happy as we can. Tillotson.

5. Important; necessary. [Obs.] That which thou aright Believest so main to our success, I bring. Milton. By main force, by mere force or sheer force; by violent effort; as, to subdue insurrection by main force. That Maine which by main force Warwick did win. Shak.

– By main strength, by sheer strength; as, to lift a heavy weight by main strength.

– Main beam (Steam Engine), working beam.

– Main boom (Naut.), the boom which extends the foot of the mainsail in a fore and aft vessel.

– Main brace. (a) (Mech.) The brace which resists the chief strain. Cf. Counter brace. (b) (Naut.) The brace attached to the main yard.

– Main center (Steam Engine), a shaft upon which a working beam or side lever swings.

– Main chance. See under Chance.

– Main couple (Arch.), the principal truss in a roof.

– Main deck (Naut.), the deck next below the spar deck; the principal deck.

– Main keel (Naut.), the principal or true keel of a vessel, as distinguished from the false keel.

Syn.

– Principal; chief; leading; cardinal; capital.

Main, adv. Etym: [See Main, a.]

Definition: Very extremely; as, main heavy. "I'm main dry." Foote. [Obs. or Low]

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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