main adj. (6 is the commonest S. sense)
1.
exerted to
the full, overpowering
2H6 I. i. 211
“by main force,”
H8 II. ii. 7
“main power.”
2.
highly important,
momentous
H8 III. ii. 216
“this main
secret.”
3.
very great in degree
All'sW. III. vi. 16
“a danger.”
4.
chief in size or
extent, chief part of
AYL. III. v. 103
“the main harvest;
battle,”
the body of troops forming the bulk of an
army 3H6 I. i. 8, R3 V. iii. 300.
5.
general
H5 I. ii. 144
“the main intendment of
the Scot,”
H8 III. i. 92,
IV. i. 31
“the main
assent,”
Troil. I. iii. 373,
Cæs. II. i. 196
“the main opinion he
held once,”
Ham. I. iii. 28.
6.
principal, chief
All'sW. IV. iii. 104,
H8 II. ii. 41, Cor. IV. iii. 20, Ham. I. i. 105, Ant. I. ii. 204.
7.
“main flood,” high tide
Mer.V. IV. i.
72.
