sain

[ seyn ]

verb (used with object)Archaic.
  1. to make the sign of the cross on, as for protection against evil influences.

  2. to bless.

Origin of sain

1
before 900; Middle English; Old English segnian (cognate with German segnen to bless) <Late Latin signāre to sign with the cross

Words Nearby sain

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use sain in a sentence

  • The column was re-formed at sain Kaleh and proceeded by easier stages 200 miles further southward to Hamadan.

    The Cradle of Mankind | W.A. Wigram
  • The upper villages of Akhs might be, however, those higher up on the sain-dary (Sr-dary).

    The Bbur-nma in English | Babur, Emperor of Hindustan
  • Ne sait-tu pas que jai promis ta femme de te ramener sain et sauf?

    How France Built Her Cathedrals | Elizabeth Boyle O'Reilly
  • John Splendid crossed himself ere he had mind of his present creed, and "God sain us!"

    John Splendid | Neil Munro
  • L'pus jone dit a sain pre, "Main pre, baill m'cheu qu doo me 'r v'nir ed vous bien," et lue pre leu partit sain bien.

    A Handbook of the English Language | Robert Gordon Latham

British Dictionary definitions for sain

sain

/ (seɪn) /


verb
  1. (tr) archaic to make the sign of the cross over so as to bless or protect from evil or sin

Origin of sain

1
Old English segnian, from Latin signare to sign (with the cross)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012