in the main

  • 1The main chance — Chance Chance (ch[.a]ns), n. [F. chance, OF. cheance, fr. LL. cadentia a allusion to the falling of the dice), fr. L. cadere to fall; akin to Skr. [,c]ad to fall, L. cedere to yield, E. cede. Cf. {Cadence}.] 1. A supposed material or psychical… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 2For the main — Main Main, n. [AS. m[ae]gen strength, power, force; akin to OHG. magan, Icel. megin, and to E. may, v. [root]103. See {May}, v.] 1. Strength; force; might; violent effort. [Obs., except in certain phrases.] [1913 Webster] There were in this… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 3In the main — Main Main, n. [AS. m[ae]gen strength, power, force; akin to OHG. magan, Icel. megin, and to E. may, v. [root]103. See {May}, v.] 1. Strength; force; might; violent effort. [Obs., except in certain phrases.] [1913 Webster] There were in this… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 4in the main — {adv. phr.}, {formal} In most cases; generally; usually. * /In the main, small boys and dogs are good friends./ * /In the main, the pupils did well on the test./ …

    Dictionary of American idioms

  • 5in the main — {adv. phr.}, {formal} In most cases; generally; usually. * /In the main, small boys and dogs are good friends./ * /In the main, the pupils did well on the test./ …

    Dictionary of American idioms

  • 6To splice the main brace — Splice Splice (spl[imac]s), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Spliced} (spl[imac]st); p. pr. & vb. n. {Splicing}.] [D. splitsen, splitten; akin to G. splissen, Sw. splissa, Dan. splisse, and E. split; from the dividing or splitting the ends into separate… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 7Main — (m[=a]n), a. [From {Main} strength, possibly influenced by OF. maine, magne, great, L. magnus. Cf. {Magnate}.] 1. Very or extremely strong. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] That current with main fury ran. Daniel. [1913 Webster] 2. Vast; huge. [Obs.] The… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 8Main beam — Main Main (m[=a]n), a. [From {Main} strength, possibly influenced by OF. maine, magne, great, L. magnus. Cf. {Magnate}.] 1. Very or extremely strong. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] That current with main fury ran. Daniel. [1913 Webster] 2. Vast; huge.… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 9Main boom — Main Main (m[=a]n), a. [From {Main} strength, possibly influenced by OF. maine, magne, great, L. magnus. Cf. {Magnate}.] 1. Very or extremely strong. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] That current with main fury ran. Daniel. [1913 Webster] 2. Vast; huge.… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 10Main brace — Main Main (m[=a]n), a. [From {Main} strength, possibly influenced by OF. maine, magne, great, L. magnus. Cf. {Magnate}.] 1. Very or extremely strong. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] That current with main fury ran. Daniel. [1913 Webster] 2. Vast; huge.… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English