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The principal sail in a ship or other vessel. [They] hoised up the mainsail to the wind. Acts xxvii. 40.

One of the ropes by which the mainsail is hauled aft and trimmed.

The principal or most important spring in a piece of mechanism, especially the moving spring of a watch or clock or the spring in a gunlock which impels the hammer. Hence: The chief or most powerful motive; the efficient cause of action.

The stay extending from the foot of the foremast to the maintop.

To swear falsely. [Obs.] Blount.

; to support; to sustain; to uphold; to keep up; not to suffer to fail or decline; as, to maintain a certain degree of heat in a furnace; to maintain a fence or a railroad; to maintain the digestive process or powers of the stomach; to maintain the fertility of soil; to maintain present reputation.

That maybe maintained.

One who maintains.

One who, not being interested, maintains a cause depending between others, by furnishing money, etc., to either party. Bouvier. Wharton.

The act of maintaining; sustenance; support; defense; vindication. Whatsoever is granted to the church for God's honor and the maintenance of his service, is granted to God. South.

The platform about the head of the mainmast in square-rigged vessels.

Of or pertaining to the genus Maia, or family Maiadeæ.

Master. [Obs.] Chaucer. Spenser.

Mastery; superiority; art. See Mastery. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Mistress. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Same as Maghet.

A large species of American grass of the genus Zea (Z. Mays), widely cultivated as a forage and food plant; Indian corn. Also, its seed, growing on cobs, and used as food for men animals. Maize eater (Zoöl.), a South American bird of the genus Pseudoleistes, allied to the troupials. -- Maize yellow, a delicate pale ye…

Majestic. [Obs.] E. Pocock. Dr. J. Scott.

Possessing or exhibiting majesty; of august dignity, stateliness, or imposing grandeur; lofty; noble; grand. "The majestic world." Shak. "Tethys'grave majestic pace." Milton. The least portions must be of the epic kind; all must be grave, majestic, and sublime. Dryden .

Majestic. Cowley. An older architecture, greater, cunninger, more majestical. M. Arnold. -- Ma*jes"tic*al*ly, adv. -- Ma*jes"tic*al*ness, n.