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countable and uncountable, plural mainprises
(law, historical) A writ directed to the sheriff, commanding him to take sureties, called mainpernors, for the prisoner's appearance, and to let him go at large.
(law, historical) Deliverance of a prisoner on security for his appearance at a day.
third-person singular simple present mainprises, present participle mainprising, simple past and past participle mainprised
(transitive, law) To allow (a prisoner) to go at large, on his finding sureties, or mainpernors, for his appearance on a given day. examples