Etymology, English, Main
Etymology Adjective. From Middle English mayn, main, maine, mæin, meyn, from main (noun) (see further at the noun etymology); compare Old English mægen- (“strong, main, principal”) and Old Norse megn, megenn (“strong, main”). The word is cognate with Old High German megīn (“strong, mighty”) (modern German Möge, Vermögen (“power, wealth”)), and also akin to Old English magan (“to be…