mainprise noun 2verb 1forms 3 noun2 •(historical) Deliverance of a prisoner on security for his appearance at a day. •(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. verb1 •To allow (a prisoner) to go at large, on his finding sureties, or mainpernors, for his appearance on a given day. formsmainprised · mainprising · mainprises