Mainpernable to Make
Mainpernable
(Main"per*na*ble) a. [OF. main hand + pernable, for prenable, that may be taken, pregnable.
See Mainpernor.] (Law) Capable of being admitted to give surety by mainpernors; able to be mainprised.
Mainpernor
(Main"per*nor) n. [OF. main hand + pernor, for preneor, a taker, F. preneur, fr. prendre
to take.] (Law) A surety, under the old writ of mainprise, for a prisoner's appearance in court at a day.
Mainpernors differ from bail in that a man's bail may imprison or surrender him before the stipulated
day of appearance; mainpernors can do neither; they are bound to produce him to answer all charges
whatsoever. Blackstone.
Mainpin
(Main"pin) n. (Vehicles) A kingbolt.
Mainprise
(Main"prise) n. [F. main hand + prise a taking, fr. prendre, p. p. pris to take, fr. L. prehendere,
prehensum.] (Law) (a) A writ directed to the sheriff, commanding him to take sureties, called mainpernors,
for the prisoner's appearance, and to let him go at large. This writ is now obsolete. Wharton. (b)
Deliverance of a prisoner on security for his appearance at a day.
Mainprise
(Main"prise), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mainprised ; p. pr. & vb. n. Mainprising.] (Law) To
suffer to go at large, on his finding sureties, or mainpernors, for his appearance at a day; — said of a
prisoner.
Mains
(Mains) n. [Scot. See Manse.] The farm attached to a mansion house. [Scot.]
Mainsail
(Main"sail`) n. (Naut.) The principal sail in a ship or other vessel.
[They] hoised up the mainsail to the wind.
Acts xxvii. 40. The mainsail of a ship is extended upon a yard attached to the mainmast, and that of a sloop or schooner
upon the boom.
Mainsheet
(Main"sheet`) n. (Naut.) One of the ropes by which the mainsail is hauled aft and trimmed.
Mainspring
(Main"spring`) n. 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.
Mainstay
(Main"stay`) n.
1. (Naut.) The stay extending from the foot of the foremast to the maintop.
2. Main support; principal dependence.
The great mainstay of the Church.
Buckle. Mainswear
(Main"swear`) v. i. [AS. manswerian to forswear; man sin, crime + swerian to swear.] To
swear falsely. [Obs.] Blount.
Maintain
(Main*tain) v. t. [imp. & p. p. Maintained ; p. pr. & vb. n. Maintaining.] [OE. maintenen,
F. maintenir, properly, to hold by the hand; main hand (L. manus) + F. tenir to hold See Manual, and
Tenable.]
1. To hold or keep in any particular state or condition; 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.
