English
mainly
Mainly comes from Middle English maynly ‘bravely, mightily’, from mayn ‘strong, main’ + -ly.
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500mayn
- Middle English, derivedc. 1150–1500maynly‘bravely’
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1587–1588mainly
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500mayn
- Middle English, derivedc. 1150–1500maynly‘bravely’
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1587–1588mainly
Earliest quotation: c. 1587–1588, Christopher Marlowe, Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […]: “Such breadth of ſhoulders as might mainely beare Olde…”
Every English word from Middle English mayn
Today it means
adv Of a person or thing being the driving force influencing the outcome of an event; chiefly; certainly for the most part.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Middle English mayn / mainly