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amain

Archaic Terms
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

With great speed or force; at full speed—frequently employed in poetic or dramatic contexts to convey urgency or intensity.

Detailed Definition
“Amain” derives from the phrase “at main” (with full strength) and appears in nautical and martial poetry to convey urgency or vigor. It energizes action scenes—chases, battles, or storms—with dynamic rhythm. Shakespeare and Spenser used it to heighten tension or depict heroic effort. Its monosyllabic punch fits trochaic or spondaic lines, making it a favored adverb for kinetic imagery in epic and dramatic verse.
Example
Example in poetry:
"They rowed amain toward the sinking sun," evoking urgent effort; In Shakespeare’s The Tempest: "Come, run amain!" commands Ariel; "He fled amain from the wrath of the king," a line from a border ballad; Milton uses "amain" in Paradise Lost to describe angels rushing into battle; "Strike amain, brave hearts!" cried the captain before the final charge; The wind blew amain, tearing sails and spars.
Additional Notes
“Amain” derives from Middle English “a” (on) + “main” (force), and in poetry signals urgency or violence—e.g., ships sailing “amain” through storms or warriors charging; it’s useful for scanning iambic lines where strong monosyllables are needed.
Also Known As
quickly hastily at full speed
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