amain
To lowerTo lower (the sail of a ship, particularly the topsail).
Meaning
3 senses(obsolete, transitive)To lower (the sail of a ship, particularly the topsail).
(figuratively, obsolete, transitive)To decrease or reduce (something).
(intransitive, obsolete)To lower the topsail in token of surrender; to yield.
Origin
Borrowed from Spanish amainar (“to reef a sail (take in part of a sail to adapt its size tBorrowed from Spanish amainar (“to reef a sail (take in part of a sail to adapt its size to the force of the wind); to abate, die down, subside; to ease off, let up; of a person: to calm down, control one’s anger”); further etymology uncertain, probably from a regional Italian (Naples) word (compare Italian ammainare (“to lower or reef (a flag, sail, etc.)”)), from Vulgar Latin *invagīnare (“to sheathe (a sword); to put away, stow”), from Latin in- (prefix meaning ‘in, inside, within’) + vāgīna (“scabbard, sheath; covering, holder; vagina”) (possibly ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *weh₂ǵ- (“to cover; sheath”)); this would make it a doublet of invaginate.
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Forms
amains, amaining, amained, amainedLessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, regular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle