main sb.1 (the orig. sense of ‘strength’ is probably represented in Troil. II. iii. 276 “with all our main of power” )
1.
chief or main
part, main body (“of”
something)
Mer.V. V. i. 97
“Empties itself, as doth
an inland brook Into the main of
waters,”
Ham. IV. iv. 15
“against the main of
Poland.”
2.
principal point,
chief concern Ham. II. ii.
56.
3.
mainland
Lr. III. i. 6
“swell the curled waters
'bove the main.”
4.
‘main
sea’, ocean
John II. i. 26
“England, hedg'd in with
the main,”
R3 I. iv. 20, Oth. II. i. 3, 39,
Sonn. lxiv. 7
“the watery
main,”
lxxx. 8
