different between again vs amain

English

Alternative forms

• agen, againe, agayne, ageyne (all obsolete)
• agin, ag'in (colloquial or humorous)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /????n/, /???e?n/
• (regional US) IPA^(key): /????n/
• Rhymes: -e?n, -?n
• Hyphenation: a?gain

Etymology

From Middle English agayn, again,ayain, ayen, an?en, from Old English ???an, on??an, on?e?n (“towards, against, opposite to, contrary to, against, in exchange for, opposite, back, again, anew, also”), equivalent to a- +? gain (“against”). Cognate with Danish igen (“again”), Swedish igen (“again”), and Norwegian igjen (“again”)

Adverb

again (not comparable)

1. Another time; once more. [from 14^thc.]
   • 1931, Robert L. May, Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer, Montgomery Ward (publisher), draft:

     He tangled in tree-tops again and again / And barely missed hitting a tri-motored plane.

   • 1979, Charles Edward Daniels et al., “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” (song), Million Mile Reflections, Charlie Daniels Band, Epic Records:

     Johnny said, “Devil, just come on back if you ever want to try again / I done told you once, you son of a bitch, I’m the best that’s ever been.”

   • 2010, Simon Hattenstone, The Guardian, 30 October:

     The last sentence is so shocking, I have to read it again.

2. Over and above a factor of one. [from 16^thc.]
   • 1908 December 10, Austin H. Clark, “New Genera and Species of Crinoids”, Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington, Volume XXI, pp.229–230:

     Cirri l-lxxx, 15, about 12mm. long; first two joints short, about twice as broad as long; third about one-third again [=one and one-third times] as long as broad; fourth and fifth the longest, about half again [=one and a half times] as long as broad; […].

3. Used metalinguistically, with the repetition being in the discussion, or in the linguistic or pragmatic context of the discussion, rather than in the subject of discussion. [from 16^thc.]
   1. Tell me again, say again; used in asking a question to which one may have already received an answer that one cannot remember.

   2. I ask again, I say again; used in repeating a question or statement.

   3. Here too, here also, in this case as well; used in applying a previously made point to a new instance; sometimes preceded by "here".

      • A great bargain also had been the excellent Axminster carpet which covered the floor; as, again, the arm-chair in which Bunting now sat forward, staring into the dull, small fire.

4. (obsolete) Back in the reverse direction, or to an original starting point. [10^th–18^thc.]
   • 1526, The Bible, tr. William Tyndale, Matthew 2:

     And after they were warned in ther slepe, that they shulde not go ageyne to Herod, they retourned into ther awne countre another way.

5. Back (to a former place or state). [from 11^thc.]
6. (obsolete) In return, as a reciprocal action; back. [13^th–19^thc.]
   • 1852–3, Charles Dickens, Bleak House

     As he lies in the light before a glaring white target, the black upon him shines again […].

7. (obsolete) In any other place.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Francis Bacon to this entry?)

8. (obsolete) On the other hand.
9. Moreover; besides; further.
   • 1835, John Herschel, A Treatise on Astronomy

     Again, it is of great consequence to avoid, etc.

Derived terms

Translations

Preposition

again

1. (obsolete or dialectal) Against.
   • 1485, Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book X:

     And here begynneth the treson of Kynge Marke that he ordayned agayne Sir Trystram.

   • 1924, J H Wilkinson, Leeds Dialect Glossary and Lore, page 60

     Ah'd like to wahrn (warn) thi agaan 'evvin owt to dew wi' that chap.

   • 2003, Glasgow Sunday Herald, page 16, column 2:

     You may think you are all on the same side, agin the government.

References

Anagrams

• AAing, Gaian, Ganai, Giana, Nagai

Scots

Alternative forms

• agin

Etymology

From Old English on??an.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /???en/, /????n/

Adverb

again

1. back, in the opposite direction
2. again, anew

Preposition

again

1. opposite, facing
2. against, opposed to (literally or figuratively)

Conjunction

again

1. in preparation for, in advance of

English

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation, General American) IPA^(key): /??me?n/
• Rhymes: -e?n

Etymology 1

From a- (prefix with the sense ‘at; in; on; with’, used to show a state, condition, or manner) +? main (“force, power, strength”). Main is derived from Middle English mayn (“strength”), from Old English mæ?en (“strength”), from Proto-Germanic *magin? (“might, power, strength”), *maginaz (“strong”), from Proto-Indo-European *meg?- (“to be able”).

Adverb

amain (comparative more amain, superlative most amain)

1. (archaic, literary) With all of one's might; mightily; forcefully, violently. [from 16th c.]
2. (archaic) At full speed; also, in great haste. [from 16th c.]
3. (Britain, dialectal) Out of control.
4. (obsolete) Exceedingly; overmuch.

Alternative forms

• amaine (obsolete)

Related terms

• main
• mainly (“(obsolete) forcefully, vigorously”)
• might and main

Translations

Etymology 2

Borrowed 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 *invag?nare (“to sheathe (a sword); to put away, stow”), from Latin in- (prefix meaning ‘in, inside, within’) + v?g?na (“scabbard, sheath; covering, holder; vagina”) (possibly ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *wag- (“cover; sheath”)).

Verb

amain (third-person singular simple present amains, present participle amaining, simple past and past participle amained) (obsolete)

1. (transitive)
   1. (nautical) To lower (the sail of a ship, particularly the topsail).
   2. (figuratively) To decrease or reduce (something).
2. (intransitive, nautical) To lower the topsail in token of surrender; to yield.

References

Further reading

• “AMAIN, adv.” in Joseph Wright, editor, The English Dialect Dictionary: […], volume I (A–C), London: Published by Henry Frowde, […], publisher to the English Dialect Society, […]; New York, N.Y.: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1898, ?OCLC, page 47, column 2.

Anagrams

• -mania, Amina, Maina, Mania, amnia, anima, mania

Norman

Etymology

Borrowed from Old Norse almanna (“for everyone”).

Adjective

amain m

1. (Jersey) of easy use

Tagalog

Noun

amaín

1. uncle

Yola

Etymology

From Middle English amen, from Latin ?m?n.

Interjection

amain

1. amen

References

• Jacob Poole (1867) , William Barnes, editor, A glossary, with some pieces of verse, of the old dialect of the English colony in the baronies of Forth and Bargy, County of Wexford, Ireland, J. Russell Smith, ?ISBN