Maim word meaning and definition

[verb] injure or wound seriously and leave permanent disfiguration or mutilation

\Maim\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Maimed};p. pr. & vb. n. {Maiming}.] [OE. maimen, OF. mahaignier, mehaignier, meshaignier, cf. It. magagnare, LL. mahemiare, mahennare; perh. of Celtic origin; cf. Armor. mac'ha?a to mutilate, m[=a]c'ha to crowd, press; or cf. OHG. mang?n to lack, perh. akin to E. mangle to lacerate. Cf. {Mayhem}.] 1. To deprive of the use of a limb, so as to render a person on fighting less able either to defend himself or to annoy his adversary. By the ancient law of England he that maimed any man whereby he lost any part of his body, was sentenced to lose the like part. --Blackstone. 2. To mutilate; to cripple; to injure; to disable; to impair. My late maimed limbs lack wonted might. --Spenser. You maimed the jurisdiction of all bishops. --Shak. Syn: To mutilate; mangle; cripple.
\Maim\, n. [Written in law language {maihem}, and {mayhem}.] [OF. mehaing. See {Maim}, v.] 1. The privation of the use of a limb or member of the body, by which one is rendered less able to defend himself or to annoy his adversary. 2. The privation of any necessary part; a crippling; mutilation; injury; deprivation of something essential. See {Mayhem}. Surely there is more cause to fear lest the want there of be a maim than the use of it a blemish. --Hooker. A noble author esteems it to be a maim in history that the acts of Parliament should not be recited. --Hayward.

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