verb
maim
maym
verb
1
To injure someone so severely that part of their body is permanently damaged or disabled.
"The explosion maimed several bystanders."
"The accident left him maimed for life."
How to Use Maim
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo wound someone so badly that they lose the use of a limb or body part permanently.
When to use it
A strong, serious word — usually appears in news reports of violence, accidents, or war, not everyday injuries.
Common pairings
killed or maimed
maimed for life
maim and injure
Word Forms
maimed past tense, maims plural, maims singular
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The explosion _____ several bystanders.
Etymology
From Middle English maymen, from Anglo-Norman mahaigner — the same root that gives us "mayhem."