Main Entry:

¹maim

Pronunciation:

\ˈmām\

Function:

transitive verb

Etymology:

Middle English maymen, mahaymen, from Anglo-French maheimer, mahaigner — more at mayhem

Date:

14th century

1 : to commit the felony of mayhem upon 2 : to mutilate, disfigure, or wound seriously

— maim·er noun

synonyms maim, cripple, mutilate, batter, mangle mean to injure so severely as to cause lasting damage. maim implies the loss or injury of a bodily member through violence <maimed by a shark>. cripple implies the loss or serious impairment of an arm or leg <crippled for life in an accident>. mutilate implies the cutting off or removal of an essential part of a person or thing thereby impairing its completeness, beauty, or function <a tree mutilated by inept pruning>. batter implies a series of blows that bruise deeply, deform, or mutilate <an old ship battered by fierce storms>. mangle implies a tearing or crushing that leaves deep wounds <a soldier's leg mangled by shrapnel>.