An obsolete verb meaning to damage, harm, or maim; to break or disable a limb.
From dis- + main (from Old French maine, meaning 'injury' or 'harm'). The word is documented in Middle English but fell out of use as 'maim' became the standard term.
Before 'maim' became standard, 'dismain' competed as the English term for crippling injury—it lost out, but its existence shows how English speakers were constantly choosing between rival words.
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