Definition

1. Adverb:
   • With all one's strength; with great force or vigor: "amain" describes an action performed using full physical power or intensity.
   • At full speed; with great haste or urgency: "amain" also describes moving or acting with maximum speed or in a rushed, urgent manner.

Usage

• Historical/Literary Context: "Amain" is an archaic or poetic adverb. It is rarely used in modern, everyday English but may appear in historical texts, poetry, or to create a dramatic, old-fashioned tone.
• Position in Sentence: It typically modifies a verb and is placed after the verb or at the end of a clause.

Examples

• With great strength/force:
  • The sailors pulled the heavy net amain.
  • He struck the door amain with his fist.
• With great haste/speed:
  • Fearing the storm, they fled amain for the harbor.
  • The messenger rode amain to deliver the urgent news.

Advanced Usage

• "to cry amain": to shout or call out loudly and urgently.
  • The watchman cried amain to warn the sleeping town.
• "to run amain": to run at full speed.
  • The horses ran amain across the open field.

Variants and Related Words

• Main (adj, n): While "amain" is an adverb, the related adjective "main" means chief or principal. The noun "main" can refer to a principal pipe or channel. They share an etymological root in the idea of strength or force.
  • The main reason for his success was hard work.
  • The water main burst.

Synonyms

• With force/vigor: mightily, powerfully, vigorously, forcefully.
• With haste/speed: headlong, posthaste, hastily, speedily, at full tilt.

Antonyms

• For force/vigor: gently, softly, weakly.
• For haste/speed: slowly, leisurely, gradually.

Notes on Usage

• Register: This word is marked as archaic or literary. Using it in contemporary conversation or standard writing may sound unnatural or overly dramatic. It is primarily encountered when reading older English literature or poetry.

Adverb

1. with all your strength
   • he pulled the ropes amain
2. at full speed; with great haste
   • the children ran down the hill amain