Etymology

Formally identical with the ME n. main < OE mægen ‘strength’ (cp. OIcel megin, megn, OS megin, OHG megin, magan). The ME adj. has been attributed entirely to endogenous processes (so MED, GDS), deriving it from the n., perhaps owing partly to the reanalysis of OE mægen- in compounds (e.g. mægen-cræft 'great strength, might'), or classifying it as a n. with adjectival function (Schmittbetz 14, 27; see also EPNE). Others suggest some input from the related ON adjective(s), cp. OIcel megn, meginn ‘strong’ (and cp. OHG megin) (thus OED(2 and 3), TGD, McGee 341).

PGmc Ancestor

*maʒen-

Proposed ON Etymon (OIcel representative)

megn, meginn ‘strong’
(ONP megn (2) (adj.); meginn (adj.))

Other Scandinavian Reflexes

Icel megn, Norw megna

OE Cognate

mægen (n.) ‘strength’

Phonological and morphological markers

Summary category

CC1a

Attestation

Other than in nautical usage (MED’s sense 3) and once in 1450 Capgr. Rome (Bod 423), attested in ME only in alliterative verse (inc. LB) (see Dance 2003: 398 n.77.)

Occurrences in the Gersum Corpus

Gaw 94, 187, 336 etc.; WA 2666, 3018, *3332 etc.

On the sense at Gaw 497 see PSn.  WA 3332 *maynest is an emendation by TPD for MS (and Skeat) menest.

Bibliography

MED main (adj.) , OED3 main (adj.2) , HTOED , HTOED , Dance mayn, de Vries megn (n.); megin (1), Mag. megn (2); meginn, Heid. magena-, Orel *maʒenaz