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mightn.1 Origin: A word inherited from Germanic. Etymology: Cognate with Old Frisian macht , mecht (West Frisian macht ), Middle Dutch macht , machte (Dutch macht ), Old Saxon maht (Middle Low German macht , mechte ), Old High German maht (Middle High German maht , German Macht ), Gothic mahts , also Old Icelandic máttr , all < suffixed forms (compare -t suffix3) of the Germanic base of may v.1; compare (with different suffixation) the Germanic forms cited s.v. main n.1 Old Icelandic (in late sources) makt, Icelandic mekt (16th cent.), Old Swedish makt (Swedish makt), Danish magt are all ultimately loans < Middle Low German.Outside Germanic a parallel formation exists in Slavonic languages, compare Old Church Slavonic moštĭ power, strength, ability, Russian moč′ power, might. Northern Middle English and Scots α. forms probably show influence from early Scandinavian (compare Old Icelandic máttr ). The β. forms show i-mutation. The Old English form meht appears in both lists: in West Saxon it shows late smoothing of ea , and in Anglian regular i-mutation of æ . Late Middle English plural forms with final -ist , -est occur in the phrase God (Lord) of mights most , and probably arise from confusion with -est suffix. Sense 4 reflects classical Latin virtus virtue, power, and the post-classical use of the same word for angels (2nd cent. in general sense; 6th cent. or later in sense 4a); the latter senses of the Latin word are from Hellenistic Greek δυνάμις ‘angelic or demonic force, angel, esp. conceived as an emanation of the power of God’ (1st cent. a.d. or earlier, usually in Jewish writings, but with one instance in the Hermetic corpus); first used in the specific sense 4a in Dionysius the pseudo-Areopagite Celestial Hierarchy (early 6th cent.), where it echoes Ephesians 1:21. Compare power n.1 9b, virtue n. 3c. With the development of sense 6 compare power n.1 10. 1. the world > action or operation > ability > [noun] society > authority > power > [noun] society > authority > power > [noun] > superior power OE 31 Forðon..he [sc. the Devil] nænige mehte wið us nafaþ. OE (Julius) 20 Mar. 36 Ond he hæfde þa miht þæt he mihte geseon manna sawle, þa clænan ond ða oþre. OE Ælfric (Laud) 74 Wite þu..þæt se þe oðerne neadað ofer his mihte to drincenne, þæt se mot aberan heora begra gilt, gif him ænig hearm of þam drence becymð. c1175 ( Ælfric Homily (Bodl. 343) in S. Irvine (1993) 25 Sæȝe us..on hwæs mihte ðu wurcæst þas syllice wundræ. c1175 (Burchfield transcript) l. 2956 Drihhtin me ȝifeþ witt. & mihht. To forþenn wel min wille. c1325 (c1300) (Calig.) 4853 Þanne viȝteþ hii aȝen vs as moche as is hor miȝte. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) 6720 (MED) Þe lord þat þat beist aght Sal þar-for ansuer at his maght. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) 26271 (MED) Quen nede es for to slak Þe sett penance..Þar-til has simple preist na might. c1450 (c1380) G. Chaucer 41 Yf that spirites have the myght To make folk to dreme a-nyght. a1466 in (2004) II. 318 Of yowr selfe ȝe haue no myght neyþer power to absteyne and rewle yowr-self. 1568 in J. Small (1893) II. 154 The knychtis..Fell doun as deid, afferit of his licht, Quhome to behald thay had no grace nor mycht. 1609 W. Shakespeare iii. ii. 153 For to be wise and loue, Exceeds mans might that dwells with gods aboue. View more context for this quotation 1611 J. Davies 188 Though I May, I cannot wanting Might;..But when the Sonne of Fauour shines on mee My May may then have Might to flourish thee. a1672 A. Bradstreet Four Monarchyes ii, in (1962) 92 Disguised Cressus hop'd to scape i'th' throng, Who had no might to save himself from wrong. 1850 Ld. Tennyson cvi. 166 What profit lies in barren faith,..tho' with might To scale the heaven's highest height? View more context for this quotation 1852 M. Arnold 75 But our ignoble souls lack might. 1915 W. S. Maugham lxxviii. 408 It was like those gods of Epicurus, who saw the doings of men from their empyrean heights and had no might to alter one smallest particle of what occurred. the world > action or operation > advantage > efficacy > [noun] society > morality > virtue > [noun] > a virtue OE tr. Pseudo-Apuleius (Vitell.) (1984) xxx. 76 Wið toþa sare..genim þas ylcan wyrte, heo of sumre wundurlicre mihte helpeð. OE Wærferð tr. Gregory (Corpus Cambr.) (1900) ii. xxx. 161 Ic wolde witan hweþer..he hwilum eac hi [sc.the miracles] gegearwode mid þære mihte anre his godan wyllan. a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris (1873) 2nd Ser. 119 Fir haueð on him þre mihtes. ?a1200 ( tr. Pseudo-Apuleius (Harl. 6258B) lxxi. 11 Ðeos wyrt is..tweȝra cinna..hi habbeð on ælcum þinga ȝelice mihta onȝean þa þinga. a1225 (?OE) MS Lamb. in R. Morris (1868) 1st Ser. 47 Sunne dei..hafð..þreo wurdliche mihte. c1395 G. Chaucer 133 This mirour..Hath swich a myght þat men may in it see Whan ther shal fallen any aduersitee. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) 8454 Lerd he Bath o tres and gress fele Quil war þair mightes soth and lele. c1450 (?a1405) J. Lydgate Complaint Black Knight (Fairf.) 86 in (1934) ii. 386 (MED) The water was..holsom and..vertuous, Throgh myghte of erbes grovynge..beside. 1590 E. Spenser i. vii. sig. G2v One pretious stone Of wondrous worth, and eke of wondrous mights. 1600 W. Shakespeare ii. i. 64 An oath of mickle might. 1609 W. Shakespeare lvi. sig. D4v Apetite, Which but too daie by feeding is alaied, To morrow sharpned in his former might . View more context for this quotation a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) iii. v. 82 Dead Shepheard, now I [f]ind thy saw of might . View more context for this quotation 1642 H. More sig. E7v Not onely they that visible bereave Of life and being, but the hidden might And root of motion unliv'd unbeen'd they leave In their vain thoughts. a1822 P. B. Shelley Witch of Atlas xvii, in (1824) 34 Liquors..whose healthful might Could medicine the sick soul to happy sleep. a1822 P. B. Shelley Homer's Hymn to Mercury lxv, in (1824) 316 I swear by these most gloriously-wrought portals—(It is, you will allow, an oath of might). 1832 Ld. Tennyson Eleänore in (new ed.) 30 In thee all passion becomes passionless,..Losing his fire and active might. 1847 R. W. Emerson 144 Merlin's blows are strokes of fate, Chiming..With..prayers of might from martyrs' cave. the world > life > the body > system > [noun] > organ > vital organs > action or power of the world > physical sensation > physical sensibility > [noun] > faculty of sensation > the senses c1175 (Burchfield transcript) l. 11506 Sawle..hafeþþ þrinne mahhtess..Innsihht. & mindiȝnesse. & wille iss hire þridde mahht. a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris (1873) 2nd Ser. 35 (MED) And þurh þes fifealde gultes forleas þe fiffeald mihten þe god him ȝef. a1225 MS Lamb. in R. Morris (1868) 1st Ser. 75 Þe alde deouel blou on adam and on eue..swa þet heore fif-falde mihte hom wes al binumen. c1400 J. Wyclif (1880) 3 Þei myȝten..ocupie al þe myȝtis boþe of soule & body be þat clene religioun. ?c1430 (c1400) J. Wyclif (1880) 217 Bi þis glotonye..þei..lesen..myȝttis of þe soule, as vnderstondynge, mynde, & reson. ?c1450 in (1896) 18 309 (MED) It counf[ortyth] þe stomak and mythys degestyf. a1475 (1889) 17 If it..a-sende vp to þe heed, it troubliþ alle þe myȝtis of þe brayn. 1494 W. Hilton (de Worde) ii. iv Thenne shall the soule receyue the hole and the full felynge of god in all myghtes of it. a1500 (c1340) R. Rolle (Univ. Oxf. 64) (1884) xii. 6 When all þe myghtis of my hert ere raised in till þe soun of heuen. 1530 (Fawkes) (1873) ii. 191 Adam loued god wyth all the myghtes of hys harte. 1621 M. Wroth iv. 1 Deare eyes..Two starres of Heauen sent downe to grace the Earth..; So pleasant is their force, so great their mights, As happy they can tryumph in their harmes. 1666 in J. Forbes (ed. 2) xxii All my corps, alace! in pain that force nor strength have I no maughts To use themselves as they were mine. 1778 A. Ross (ed. 2) 23 They had nae maughts for sick a toilsome task. 1808 J. Jamieson at Maucht Of a person who is paralytic, or debilitated by any other malady, it is said; He has lost the machts, or his machts, S[cotia] B[orealis]. 1857 A. N. Ward iv. 71 If you have got property of any kind, that you do not know what to do with, lay it out in making a farm, or building a saw mill or a woollen factory, and go to with your mights to put all your property to usury. 1873 J. Brown 223 She hisna mauchts noo for a sair turn. 1965 in at Maucht n. Aberdeen 1928: He has nae machts o' 'imsel, i.e. his faculties are impaired. the world > life > the body > bodily constitution > bodily strength > [noun] eOE (Royal) (1865) ii. xlii. 254 Gif hæto oþþe meht ne wyrne læt him blod. OE Ælfric Old Test. Summary: Judges (Laud) xvi. 22 in S. J. Crawford (1922) 413 Ða weoxon his [sc. Samson's] loccas & his miht eft on him. c1225 (?c1200) (Bodl.) 336 (MED) Ga nu neor..&..bind him..Godd al mihti ȝeueð þe mahte forte don hit. a1250 (?c1200) (Maidstone) (1955) 121 (MED) Elde..binimeþ him is mihte. c1330 (?a1300) (Auch.) (1973) 1531 (MED) Þe white þere arered miȝt, & gan eft wiþ þe rede fiȝt. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) 7090 Sampson..had tuenti mens might. a1470 T. Malory (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) I. 277 Now, be my fayth..I woll preve sir Kayes myght. a1513 W. Dunbar (1998) I. 236 He is an mastive, mekle of mycht. a1540 (c1460) G. Hay tr. 3166 Of his hors in dispite of his maucht He raisit him. c1550 (1979) vi. 32 Ane lang draucht, ane lang draucht. mair maucht, mair maucht. 1587 L. Mascall (1627) 102 Whereas a horse is weak in couering, so much weaker shal the colt be in growing & might. 1611 Jer. li. 30 Their might hath failed, they became as women. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) ii. iv. 8 I haue a mans minde, but a womans might . View more context for this quotation 1773 R. Fergusson 9 Fearfu' aften o' their Maught. 1820 P. B. Shelley Ode to Liberty xix, in 222 My song, its pinions disarrayed of might, Drooped. 1844 E. Robinson tr. F. H. W. Gesenius 954 Metaph. horn is put as the symbol of strength, might, power, the image being drawn from the bull and other animals which push with their horns. 1851 N. Hawthorn xiii So Alice put woman's might against man's might; a match not often equal on the part of woman. 3. Great strength, imposing power. Now somewhat rhetorical. the world > the supernatural > deity > Christian God > nature or attributes of God > [noun] > power or omnipotence eOE (Mercian) (1965) lxx. 18 Potentiam tuam et iustitiam tuam deus usque in altissimus : maehte ðine & rehtwisnisse ðine god oð in heanisse. OE 31 Forþon his miht bið a ece, his rice ne bið gewemmed. OE Ælfric Homily (Cambr. Ii.4.6) in J. C. Pope (1967) I. 483 God ærest gesceop gesceafta þurh his mihte. a1225 MS Lamb. in R. Morris (1868) 1st Ser. 59 In eorðe, in heuene in his mahte. a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus (BL Add.) f. 263 Man schulde knowe his owne infirmite and þe might of god. a1450 in R. H. Bowers (1963) 33 Then ioyus thi soule thoru Goddys mythe. 1549 (STC 16267) Celebr. Holye Communion f. lxxx Lorde of all power and might, whiche art the author and geuer of all good thynges: graffe in our hartes the loue of thy name. 1567 R. Sempill (single sheet) And puir anis did pryse thair maker of mycht. 1582 S. Batman 51 They desire also to grieue brute beasts, when the might of God letteth them. a1618 J. Sylvester tr. P. Mathieu Tropheis in 2 Since first Apollo lent the World his light, And Earth impregned with his heatfull might. 1650 xciii. iv The Lord that is on high is more of might by far Than noise of many waters is. 1782 W. Cowper Conversation in 236 Fruits of his love and wonders of his might. 1827 J. Keble II. xcv. 172 O God of Mercy, God of Might. 1882 May 112 Parson Wilderspin stood by the side of the road, And he took off his hat, and he said, ‘Let us pray! O Lord, God of Might, let Thine Angels of Light Lead Thy Children to-night to the Glories of Day!’ 1910 VII. 711/1 St. Clement of Rome..speaks of ‘The Lord Jesus Christ, the Sceptre of the Might of God’. 1919 E. Pound 7 ‘O Plasmatour and true celestial light, Lord powerful, engirdlèd all with might.’ 1980 717 Lord of all power and might, the author and giver of all good things: graft in our hearts the love of thy name. 1991 P. Roth iv. 133 My father was obviously coming to trust and even to imbue with a certain divine might this doctor who was at once so much more patrician and potent-looking than haimisher, heavyset Dr. Meyerson. the world > action or operation > advantage > efficacy > [noun] > great or ability to affect strongly the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > violent behaviour > [noun] > violent treatment or force eOE tr. Bede (Tanner) ii. viii. 120 Geweox meaht eorðlices rices [of Eadwine]. OE (Northumbrian) x. 42 Principes eorum potestatem habent ipsorum : aldor-menn hiora mæht habbas hiora uel ðæra. c1175 ( Ælfric Homily (Bodl. 343) in S. Irvine (1993) 23 We sceolen..þæs monnes ȝecynd na his mihte wurðiæn. a1300 (c1275) (1991) 377 Ðis deuel is mikel wið wil & maȝt. c1325 (c1300) (Calig.) 547 Þes were as þre kinges & men of muchel miȝte. ?a1425 (Egerton) (1889) 126 (MED) He es a grete lord of myȝt and of landes. a1475 J. Fortescue (Laud) (1885) 129 We haue sene a subgett off the ffrench kynges in such myght, þat he hath gyven bataill to the same kyng, and putt hym to flight. a1530 (c1425) Andrew of Wyntoun (Royal) v. x. 3065 Wytht mekyll mawcht. ?a1535 To City of London (Vitellius) in J. Small (1893) II. 276 Of merchauntis full of substaunce and myght. 1572 (a1500) (1882) 184 The gentill King, Charlis of micht. 1600 W. Shakespeare iv. iii. 258 England shall giue him office honour, might . View more context for this quotation 1667 J. Milton iv. 986 On th' other side Satan allarm'd Collecting all his might dilated stood. View more context for this quotation 1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iii, in tr. Virgil 107 When he [sc. a bull] stands collected in his might . View more context for this quotation 1774 sig. Cv When place-proud Buckingham..Had gain'd such pow'r as spurn'd at law's career, The time produc'd a Felton's zealous soul, To curb his might. 1819 P. B. Shelley Lines Euganean Hills in 78 As divinest Shakespeare's might Fills Avon and the world with light. 1857 W. E. Gladstone 3 Mar. That metamorphosed consul is forsooth to be at liberty to direct the whole might of England. 1891 T. Roosevelt i. 2 (Funk) Spain..was a power whose might was waning. 1953 R. Stout 55 An estimated million and a quarter New Yorkers got an impressive capsule demonstration of the might of American armed forces. 1957 W. S. Churchill III. vii. iii. 29 In spite of the electoral changes Marlborough continued to conduct English foreign policy, and all moved forward in armaments and diplomacy towards a struggle with the might of France. 1995 23 Mar. 58/2 The well-established myth that plucky little Slovenia defeated the might of the Yugoslav People's Army. society > authority > power > [noun] society > authority > power > [noun] > powerful works eOE (Northumbrian) Cædmon (Cambr. Kk.5.16) 2 Nu scylun hergan hefaenricaes uard, metudæs maecti [eOE St. Petersburg mehti] end his modgidanc. OE St. Mildred (Calig.) in T. O. Cockayne (1866) III. 424 Sancte mildgyð resteð on norðhembran, þær wæron hire mihta oft gecyðede & get syndon. lOE tr. R. d'Escures Sermo in Festis Sancte Marie Virginis in R. D.-N. Warner (1917) 138 On Criste synd beclysede Godes mihten & his wisedom. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon (Calig.) (1978) l. 12952 Swiðe lutle beoð þine mæhten. a1325 St. Margarete (Corpus Cambr.) 169 in C. D'Evelyn & A. J. Mill (1956) 297 (MED) I neleoue noȝt þat is miȝten were so stronge. A so holy creature inis wombe auonge. a1450 (Westm. Sch. 3) (1967) 34 By þis kyng..schal be vndirstonde þe hyȝe kyng of heuene, þat alle myȝtis may in heuen & erþe. 1489 (a1380) J. Barbour (Adv.) iii. 366 God help him, that all mychtis may! a1500 (a1460) (1897–1973) 115 (MED) He that all myghtys may, the makere of heuen. 1567 (1897) 75 Grant blissing, Lord of mychtis maist. 1568 Christis Kirk on Grene in W. T. Ritchie (1928) II. 264 Ffor he eschaipit throw michtis of mary. ?1750 in A. Pennecuik i. 17 I wan aff be Mights of Marie. 1866 G. H. Calvert 112 We haunt the early mountain heights, Flusht by the dawns of truth; Here rustle God's creative mights, Here we can keep our youth. 1876 J. S. Blackie 68 That first Father of Lights From whom the ray vivific marvellous burst, Might of all mights, Whose thought is order, and whose will is law. a1325 (c1250) (1968) l. 584 Fowerti dais and fowerti nigt, So wex water wið magti migt. c1330 (?c1300) (Auch.) 860 A swerd of miche mauȝt. a1393 J. Gower (Fairf.) vi. 92 (MED) Love is of so gret a main..Ther mai nothing his miht withstonde. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) 22679 (MED) All þe stanes..Sal smitt togidir wit sli maght Als thoner. a1400 in F. J. Furnivall (1903) 262 (MED) Loue, þou art of mikel mit. a1525 in W. A. Craigie (1923) I. 157 The..mycht and strenth of other ryweris. a1585 A. Montgomerie Flyting with Polwart (Tullibardine) 442 in (1910) 162 Be the michtis of the moone. 1621 M. Wroth iv. 39 Reason aduiser is, Loue ruler must Be of the State... Then reuerence both their mights thus made of one. 1694 C. Hopkins tr. Ovid in 69 The Seas so whirl, with such prodigious might. 1729 A. Pope (new ed.) ii. 298 Whirlpools and storms..With all the Might of gravitation blest. 1746 B. Franklin (1987) The Force of Vis Inertiae, that obstinate Power, by which a Body endeavours with all its Might to continue in its present State, whether of Motion or Rest. a1822 P. B. Shelley Peter Bell III iv, in (?1840) 242/2 He proudly thought that his gold's might Had set those spirits burning. 1831 W. Wordsworth 8 The might Of the whole world's good wishes with him goes. 1833 Ld. Tennyson i O Love, Love, Love! O withering might! 1848 C. Dickens lv. 552 He stood parallel with it, watching its heavy wheels and brazen front, and thinking what a cruel power and might it had. 1876 A. C. Swinburne 588 All her flower of body..With the might of the wind's wrath wrenched. a1916 J. Payne (1920) 39 But thou, the fiercest seeming foe by far Of humankind,—Love,—cruellest of all The viewless mights, to whom we men are thrall, No God 'midst Gods art thou, 'midst stars no star, But the first force whereby all others are. 1932 T. E. Lawrence tr. Homer xv The ship coasted Pheae in the might of Zeus' wind and raised Elis, the Epeans' strong sanctuary. 1988 R. Basu iv. 49 It had set the pace for the British to leave peacefully that half of the world they were still occupying with the might of the gun. †4. the world > the supernatural > deity > angel > [noun] > order of > virtues OE Ælfric (Royal) (1997) xxiv. 374 Angeli sind gecwedene godes bodan; archangeli, healice bodan; uirtutes mihta, þurh ða wyrcð god fela wundra. c1400 (Selwyn) (1904) i. 16 (MED) Invisybel þinges, wheþer it ben thrones oþer lordschypes oþer pryncypatees oþer myȝtes. a1450 (1885) 2 (MED) Of all þe mightes I haue made moste nexte after me, I make þe [sc. Lucifer] als master and merour of my mighte. 1535 Eph. i. C And set him..aboue all rule, power, and mighte, and dominacion [dominaciō in text]. a1656 Bp. J. Hall (1659) i. vii. 45 The presumption of those men, who..have taken upon them to marshall these Angelicall spirits... In the second [Hierarchy] of universall Regency; finding..Mights, to be the Generals of the heavenly Militia... In the third of speciall government, placing..Powers, forty times more then Principalities: Mights, fifty more then Powers. society > morality > virtue > [noun] > a virtue OE Ælfric (Julius) (1881) I. 358 Seo oðer miht is castitas, þæt is clænnyss on ænglisc. c1175 ( Ælfric's Homily on Nativity of Christ (Bodl. 343) in A. O. Belfour (1909) 90 Þaræ sawle mihtæ beoð þas feower þing..Prudencia, Iusticia, Temperantia, Fortitudo. a1225 (c1200) (1888) 25 An hali mihte is icleped fides recta. c1225 (?c1200) (Bodl.) (1940) 10 [Meiðhad is] mihte ouer alle mihtes. 1340 (1866) 84 (MED) Myȝte..þer ne is non zoþe lhordssip bote ine uirtue. OE Aldhelm Glosses (Brussels 1650) in L. Goossens (1974) 231 Uim : neadunge uel mihte. a1500 ( (1895) II. 139 (MED) Lat myȝt helpe ryȝt and skyl go before wille and ryȝt before myȝt, than goth oure mylne aryght. ?1518 A. Barclay sig. Civ Marchauntes of Iustyce..Prolongynge causes, and makynge wronge of ryght And ryght of plaine wronge, oppressyng law wt myght. 1651 T. Hobbes xvi. 280 But as men are, there is a coercive power (in which I comprehend both right and might) necessary to rule them. 1665 J. Crowne ii. 268 If it was an Universal Rule, That Might could purchase Right, then it was as just for Danpion to regain the Kingdom by force, as Hiarbas by force to possess it. 1700 J. Dryden To my Kinsman J. Driden in 100 Patriots, in Peace, assert the Peoples Right; With noble Stubbornness resisting Might. 1705 C. Cibber Prol. Design'd by Heav'n for Anna's Happy Reign Whose generous Soul seeks only to Restrain Unbounded Tyranny, and lawless Might, Revenge Oppression, and restore the Right. 1795 T. Morton i. i. 2 During the troubles of the late reign—peaceful right was elbow'd out by warlike might... Radzano hied him back to his castle; but, alack! might cuffed down right, and, in the encounter, our good and brave lord was slain. 1837 T. Carlyle I. vi. ii. 305 With endless debating, we get the Rights of Man written down and promulgated: true paper basis of all paper Constitutions. Neglecting, cry the opponents, to declare the Duties of Man! Forgetting, answer we, to ascertain the Mights of Man. 1881 B. Jowett tr. Thucydides I. 192 They went to war, preferring might to right. 1896 6 432 The possession of a power of ruling, for instance (one of Carlyle's favorite examples of ‘mights’), does not in itself give the right of ruling. 1913 J. Muir 111 It was at this stage of the fight only an example of the rule of might with but little or no thought for the right or welfare of the other fellow if he were the weaker. 1938 T. H. White xxiii. 333 Here is the stone, and you have the sword... Will you promise me that you took it out by your own might? 1990 P. P. Read xxi. 219 If we have survived, it is because might as much as right has been on our side. the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > [noun] > (a) great quantity or amount > (a) considerable amount 1834 C. A. Davis xx. 129 The express got back, and brought..a new pair of specs—jest like the old ones (afore they was broken)—there wan't a might of difference. 1834 W. A. Caruthers I. 28 I'm 'bliged to do a might of business in Baltimore afore I can go on. 1878 J. H. Beadle ii. 29 It took a might of time. 1892 Feb. 403/2 ‘What's said of blue-eyed men?’.. ‘A might o' things.’ 1903 IV. 107/2 I've a great might of wate [i.e. wheat] this year. 1939 W. Westrup in 18 Aug. 87/1 ‘D'you hear a might of shooting a while ago?’ McBein asked, when the reminiscences had run their course. 1955 J. Masters i. 20 A sleeveless leather jerkin that..hid a might of queer things. 1959 H. Carruth 64 Sometimes she'd just lean back and yawn Like an old mare and go to sleep. She said it took a might of resting—and eating—To keep the life in such a heap. 1979 J. T. Edson 14 I can habla a might of Mex'. Phrases P1. Coupled with main in senses 1, 2, 3. OE (Northumbrian) iv. 36 Quod est hoc uerbum quia in potestate et uirtute imperat spiritibus inmundis et exuent : þæt is ðis word þætte in mæhte & mægne gehateð gastum unclænum & geongas. OE Ælfric (Julius) (1900) II. 434 Hwar is nu eower miht & eower mægen becumen. ?a1300 Thrush & Nightingale (Digby) 89 in C. Brown (1932) 104 I take witnesse of sire wawain, þat ihesu crist Ȝaf miȝt and main And strengþe for to fiȝtte. c1325 (c1300) (Calig.) 218 (MED) Þes were in þisse bataile of mest miȝt & mayn. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) 17028 (MED) Suet iesus had sua mikel might and main. c1410 (c1450) 143 Ne had i hadde mayn and might in myn armes To haue iput hem fro me, he wolde haue do me harmes. a1500 (Rawl.) (1896) 117 (MED) His myght and His mayn oght Wel to be Praysid. 1522 (de Worde) (1909) sig. A.v I haue myght & mayne ouer countrees fare. 1591 E. Spenser Ruines of Time in sig. B2 Those great warriors, which did ouercomme The world with conquest of their might and maine. 1684 P. Ker 53 If thou resolv'st to come again, Thou must recruit both might, and main: Or else it will be all in vain, To think that thou'lt trapan us. a1842 W. Maginn Chevy Chase in (1885) I. 266 At last the Douglas and the Percy met, Like two captains of might and main; They swept together, till they both sweat, With swords of fine Milain. 1885 R. F. Burton tr. IV. cclxxix. 118 I'm Shaddad son of A d..Lord of tried might and main. 1888 J. Bryce III. lxxxiv. 121 Men..who did not regard even the gods, but trusted to their own might and main. 1901 J. M. Bell 60 Friends within and foes without Their might and main conjointly blend To reach the same great, glorious end. 1935 G. Jones 140 (notes) Many of the Norsemen believed in neither the White Christ nor the Red Thor, but in their own might and main. the world > action or operation > manner of action > vigour or energy > acting vigorously or energetically [phrase] > with great vigour or energy the world > action or operation > manner of action > effort or exertion > [phrase] > with all one's might c1330 (?a1300) (Auch.) 426 (MED) Sadok..clepd him fiz a putayn & smot him wiþ miȝt and main. ?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng (Petyt) ii. 56 (MED) Toward Wircestre he com with myght & mayn. a1450 (1885) 162 (MED) Whoso ther two fulfilles then With mayne and myght in gode manere, He trulye fulfillis all þe ten. 1522 (de Worde) (1909) sig. B.iv I purpose his sarvaunt to be..With mayne and all my myght. 1577 T. Vautrollier tr. M. Luther (new ed.) f. 80 The Deuill set vppon him with all might and maine. 1578 J. Rolland 245 Than past thay baith bauldlie wt mane & micht. 1611 R. Cotgrave at Cor A cor & à cry,..by might and maine, with heaue and hoe; eagerly, vehemently, seriously. 1648 J. Beaumont xv. cclix. 293 Logos look'd bigg, and struggled might and main. 1650 J. Howell tr. A. Giraffi (1664) i. 48 The Card. Archb. of Naples with all his might and main..did not spare pains. 1671 R. Head & F. Kirkman III. xxii. 321 I ran with might and main for some Sallad-oyl, a Jarr whereof I brought in the twinkling of an eye. 1749 J. Cleland I feel the delicious velvet tip!—He enters me might and main. 1763 I. Bickerstaff i. xi. 22 To pleasure you, with main and might, I'll labour every day. 1787 F. Burney 4 June (1842) III. 370 The hair-dresser..went to work first, and I second, with all our might and main. 1804 Ld. Nelson (1814) II. 7 They call out, might and main, for our protection. 1860 R. W. Emerson Wealth in (London ed.) 81 The manly part is to do with might and main what you can do. 1873 B. P. Shillaber 211 Yet Hornbeam and Jo Chesman Both swear, by main and might, That they were sober as a judge, And only Seth was tight. 1925 July 311/2 The same [scheme] in essentials that Washington had hit upon in 1793, and tried with might and main to enforce. 1960 J. Barth i. iv. 46 What else but strive with might and main to leap in again? 1993 J. Laughlin 32 She wanted her lover most madly To have him hold her tight She wanted him to squeeze her With all his main and might. OE tr. Bili 23 Anes godes þeowes, þæs noma wæs domnech, se wæs þeowiende gode dæges & nihtes, æfter his mihtum. c1175 (Burchfield transcript) l. 945 Ȝuw birrþ..hiss lare..haldenn..Aȝȝ affterr ȝure mihhte. c1430 (c1386) G. Chaucer 2650 Lord and fader, al youre wille, After my myght..I shal fulfille. a1500 tr. Lanfranc (Wellcome) f.28v He shall forbere flesshe after' his myght. the world > action or operation > manner of action > effort or exertion > [phrase] > with all one's might OE Ælfric tr. Basil 40 Lufa ðu min bearn ðone lifiendan God mid eallre ðinre mihte. a1225 (?OE) MS Lamb. in R. Morris (1868) 1st Ser. 39 (MED) Þu scalt sahtnien þa þe beoð unisahte mid alle þine mahte. a1275 in C. Brown (1932) 28 (MED) Yemme grace þat i mote wid al mine miste louien þe. c1300 St. John Baptist (Laud) 35 in C. Horstmann (1887) 30 [They] duden him harm bi al heore miȝhte. a1400 (c1303) R. Mannyng (Harl.) 10682 (MED) Þou shalt me trouþe plyght And trewly holde hyt at alle þy myȝt. c1475 ( Surg. Treat. in f. 57v (MED) Kepe þe holy comaundementis of god by al þi power & þi myȝt. c1480 (a1400) St. Clement 454 in W. M. Metcalfe (1896) I. 386 He..hyre enbrasit with al his macht. a1500 (a1460) (1897–1973) 161 Tyll egypp shall thou fare with all the myght thou may. a1513 W. Dunbar (1998) I. 183 Be myrthfull now at all ȝour mycht. 1611 Eccles. ix. 10 Whatsoeuer thy hand findeth to doe, doe it with thy might. View more context for this quotation 1667 J. Milton iv. 346 Th' unwieldly Elephant To make them mirth us'd all his might . View more context for this quotation 1719 D. Defoe 280 The other..though he was wounded, yet had plunged himself into the Sea, and swam with all his might off to..the Canoe. 1782 W. Cowper 92 He grasped the mane with both his hands, And eke with all his might. 1834 L. Ritchie 33 Shipping a single oar in the stern, [he] began to scull out with all his might. 1867 G. MacDonald 10 I cry to thee with all my might Because I am bereft. 1911 F. H. Burnett xv It will make the bulbs and roots work and struggle with all their might under the earth. 1930 A. P. Herbert xi. 147 She had lifted three paddles without the aid of man, heaving with all her small might on the stubborn handle. 1988 in R. Dinnage 74 I rebelled with all my might and refused. the world > action or operation > manner of action > effort or exertion > exert oneself or make an effort [verb (intransitive)] > do one's utmost c1175 (Burchfield transcript) l. 6186 All birrþ þe don þin mahht tærto. To ȝemenn hire. & gætenn. a1300 Passion our Lord 111 in R. Morris (1872) 40 Þu [sc. Iudas] hit seyst..and dest al þine Mihte. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) 26294 (MED) If..þou haf oft-sith laid might [a1400 Fairf. done þi miȝt] His wrangwis liuelade for to right. a1475 (Lansd.) (Ph.D. diss., Univ. of Washington) (1965) 105 (MED) We shullen do oure might To make it [sc. the tower] stonde boþe day and night. the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > violent behaviour > [phrase] > by violence or force > force rules c1330 in R. H. Robbins (1959) 141 (MED) For miht is right, þe lond is laweles. c1450 (Harl. 6580) (1933) 124 (MED) The..philisofre seyde Myght es ryght. 1553 T. Wilson ii. f. 61v Wo be to that realme, where might outgoeth right. 1573 G. Harvey (1884) 3 Miht had alreddi overcumd riht. 1600 S. Nicholson sig. C3v O manners, times, O world-declyning daies! Where might is right, and men do what they please. a1618 J. Sylvester tr. H. Smith Micro-cosmo-graphia in tr. G. de S. Du Bartas (1621) 792 Might makes Right in every Cause... Vnder-foot, men tread the Lawes. 1650 T. Hobbes 7 Inresistable Might in the state of Nature, is Right. 1657 Ld. Say & Seale (1895) 10 107 With them [your lawers] thearfore whear thear is might thear is right, it is dominion if it succeed, but rebellion if it miscarry. 1708 E. Arwaker i. xxix. 39 (heading) The Wolf and Lamb: Or, Might overcomes Right. a1729 E. Taylor (1989) 163 What a thing is Might right mannag'd? 'Twill That Proverb brain, whose face doth ware this paint. (Might ore goe's Right.) 1790 J. Trusler 78 The law is so expensive... Might too often overcomes right. 1827 J. F. Cooper II. i. 7 But might is right, according to the fashions of the 'arth; and what the strong choose to do, the weak must call justice. 1857 3 Jan. 9 He..was..told of the revival, in this case, of the old rule that ‘might makes right’; he was surrounded by a force sufficiently strong to retain him in spite of any attempt to make a rescue. 1915 C. Grahame-White & H. Harper v. xiv. 252 The axiom that ‘might is right’ may apply very forcibly to the air wars of the future. 1973 24 Mar. 11/3 A criminal justice, which..has yet to move from its blood-stained ‘white might makes right’ philosophy. 1995 Sept. 68/1 In many ways the war against fire serves as a reminder that American might makes right. a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden (St. John's Cambr.) (1872) IV. 167 (MED) Wardeyns..sette hym uppon a wylde hors, and compelled hym..to ryde, and..he rulede þe hors over myȝt to his elde. a1393 J. Gower (Fairf.) vi. 2120 Cinichus..A Somme which was over myht Preide of his king Antigonus. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) 19625 (MED) It es to þe oute ouir miȝte Ogain þi stranger for to fiȝte. a1450 (Westm. Sch. 3) (1967) 53 (MED) Fastyng, wakyng & oþer suche werkis þat þei do so ouer myȝt, þat þei wexe so vnmyȝti here Lord for to serue. the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > violent behaviour > [phrase] > by violence or force a1425 (c1385) G. Chaucer (1987) iv. 548 This town hath al this werre For ravysshyng of wommen so by myght. a1470 T. Malory (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) I. 65 Balyne dud nat this adventure..by myght but by wycchecrauffte. 1559 W. Baldwin et al. Richard Dk. York f. lixv To kepe by murder that they get by might. 1569 W. Samuel iv. sig. G.vi The Philistian hoste twise bet them down and took their Ark by might. 1596 E. Spenser iv. ix. sig. H8v He her vnwares attacht, and captiue held by might . View more context for this quotation 1603 M. Drayton iii. lvi. 67 Entring now by force, thou hold'st by might. 1672 J. Dryden i. ii. 19 Justice distributes to each man his right, But what she gives not should I take by might? 1723 R. Blackmore v. 167 And Artolan in solemn Manner swore..To rule the Land by Law and not by Might, Defend his Subjects and protect their Right. 1778 H. Brooke ii. iv. 42 Like gods we've past o'er ev'ry stop and stay, That Law could raise, or peevish Patriots lay; O'erturn'd their moralizing mounds by might, And proved, to Power, that every road is right. a1811 R. Cumberland Sybil i, in (1813) II. 8 Why not..shew these sullen nobles, Who murmur at our greatness, that the race Of Tarquins reigns by valor as by might. 1892 E. Arnold 99 She [sc. the British Empire] alone knew, of victors first and best..To gather 'neath her wings, in one great brood, The tribes of Man, by might, then love, subdued. 1915 H. D. Rawnsley 163 Then I remember they who take the sword Must perish by the sword,—might crushed by might. a1961 H. Doolittle (1974) 197 He takes his way by might, By stealth, by cunning, by betrayal, From star-house to house. 1995 C. Smith 51 In the end, Like villagers cowed by might Who sense the nervous flesh behind the steel, We turned on her. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2002; most recently modified version published online March 2022). mightn.2 Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymons: English might , may v.1 Etymology: < might, past tense of may v.1 Compare earlier might-be n., might-have-been n. the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > possibility > [noun] > a possible thing or circumstance 1850 14 Sept. 590/3 He led us to anticipate final disclosures, and they turn out to be a parcel of ‘may haves’, ‘mights’, and ‘not unlikelys’, which contain hardly an approximation to what we can call a new fact. 1880 5 38 Things only happen once. They do happen, and in happening exclude from the region of fact all ‘woulds’ and ‘mights’. 1901 M. Franklin xvi. 133 ‘We might have both been drowned,’ he said sternly. ‘Mights don't fly,’ I returned. 1922 J. Joyce ii. xiii. [Nausicaa] 335 There was just a might that he might be out. 1961 C. H. D. Todd 57 You don't want any might about it—you need to know. 1977 June 36/2 The blokes working on the M3 will naturally be sceptical of their chances of getting a job, given all those ‘mights’. 1991 25 208 I approach issues connected with coulds, mights, ifs, and cans, dispositions and conditionals. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2002; most recently modified version published online March 2022). † mightadj.Origin: A word inherited from Germanic. Etymon: might n.1 Etymology: Cognate with Gothic maht possible, ultimately < the Germanic base of may v.1 In sense 2 perhaps partly < might n.1; compare almight adj. and n.Some later Middle English and Older Scots forms with final -e could alternatively be taken as showing mighty adj. Obsolete. rare. OE (Northumbrian) x. 27 Apud deum omnia enim possibilia sunt apud deum : mið god alle forðon mæhto uel eðelico sint mið god. society > authority > power > [adjective] OE 377 Forgeaf him se meahta moncynnes fruma þæt he swa wrætlice weorþan sceolde eft þæt ilce þæt he ær þon wæs. OE (1932) cxviii. 13 Ic on minum welerum wordum secge ealles þines muðes meahte domas. a1325 (c1250) (1968) l. 3038 And knowen sal ben..In euerilc lond min migte name. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) 4112 (MED) Lo! quer þe dremer nou es comen, Be miht god he sal be nomen. c1450 (?a1400) (Ashm.) 3722 (MED) Þe mery mai[d]ons of Amazoyne, þe miȝtist in erthe. ?a1525 (?a1475) Play Sacrament l. 85 in N. Davis (1970) 60 For of a merchante most myght therof my tale ys told. ?a1525 (?a1475) Play Sacrament l. 182 in N. Davis (1970) 63 Mace, mastyk that myght ys. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2002; most recently modified version published online December 2021). † mightv.Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: might n.1 Etymology: < might n.1 Compare earlier mighting n. Obsolete. rare. c1450 C. d'Orleans (1941) 44 I welle no more my fayntid gost to myght. a1500 Treat. Ghostly Battle in C. Horstmann (1896) II. 427 (MED) Arme yow in thys gostly armure and myghteth yow in thys gostly batayle. This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, March 2002; most recently modified version published online December 2020). <  n.1eOE n.21850 adj.OEv.c1450 |
