sain
[seyn]
- to make the sign of the cross on, as for protection against evil influences.
- to bless.
Origin of sain
before 900; Middle English; Old English segnian (cognate with German segnen to bless) < Late Latin signāre to sign with the cross
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for sain
Historical Examples
Of the townships on the north of the Sain River one is Akhs.
The Bbur-nma in EnglishBabur, Emperor of Hindustan
As it nis good, I nill say—or sain, instead of it is not good—I will not say.
Chaucer for ChildrenMrs. H. R. Haweis
We'll have him—the biggest turkey ever sailed out of ol' Sain' Peer.
Wide CoursesJames Brendan Connolly
Farghna has seven separate townships,46 five on the south and two on the north of the Sain.
The Bbur-nma in EnglishBabur, Emperor of Hindustan
(b) Erskine (p. 5, translating from the Persian): The river Sain flows under the walls of the castle.
The Bbur-nma in EnglishBabur, Emperor of Hindustan
sain
- (tr) archaic to make the sign of the cross over so as to bless or protect from evil or sin
Word Origin
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
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Word Origin and History for sain
v.
"to cross oneself; to mark with the sign of the cross," Old English segnian, from Latin signare "to sign" (in Church Latin "to make the sign of the Cross"); see sign (n.). A common Germanic borrowing, cf. Old Saxon segnon, Dutch zegenen, Old High German seganon, German segnen "to bless," Old Norse signa.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper