Where does “mæin” come from?

mæin (Middle English) comes from Middle English main, from Old English mæġen, from Proto-Germanic maginą, from Proto-Indo-European mēgh- — to be able.

mæin (Middle English): Alternative form of mayn

Definitions

  1. Alternative form of mayn

Ancestry of “mæin”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishmainAlternative form of mayn
2Old Englishmæġenmight, main; strength
3Proto-Germanicmaginąability, power, might, main
4Proto-Indo-Europeanmēgh-to be able
Every word from Proto-Indo-European mēgh- →Every word from Proto-Germanic maginą →Every word from Old English mæġen →