English meaning: Mail
Definition
A bag or wallet.
Example
“She walked to the corner to mail the birthday card.”
Another example: “The knight's coat of mail deflected the sword blow.”
Usage — When, Where & How
A common noun for letters and parcels sent through the postal system, the system itself, or electronic messages ('e-mail', now usually just 'mail'). Also a verb ('mail a letter'). A separate sense is flexible armour ('chain mail'). Neutral register.
Etymology & Origin
English — Origin & History
For the post: from Old French 'male' (bag, wallet), from Frankish; for armour: from Old French 'maille' (mesh), from Latin 'macula' (spot, mesh).
Synonyms
Related Words
Common Collocations
- send mail
- check the mail
- junk mail
- mail a letter
- first-class mail
Word Forms
mail (n & v); mails; mailed; mailing; mailbox (n)
Word Tools
Literary Heritage
“To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”
/To thine own self be true/
“Be honest with yourself — and as naturally as night follows day, you will be unable to be false to others.”
“I'm nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody, too?”
/I'm nobody! Who are you?/
“I am nobody — and that quiet anonymity is more honest than the noise of public fame.”
Images
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Language information
- Language
- English
- English
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- Latin
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- Indo-European
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