ain

¹ American  

[eyn] / eɪn /

adjective

Scot.

1. own.

---

Ain ² American  

[an] / ɛ̃ /

noun

1. a department in E France. 2,249 sq. mi. (5,825 sq. km). Bourg.

---

ʿain ³ American  

[ahyn, eyn] / aɪn, eɪn /

Or ʿayn

noun

1. the 18th letter of the Arabic alphabet.

2. the voiced pharyngeal constrictive consonant represented by this letter.

---

Ain ¹ British  

/ ɛ̃ /

noun

1. a department in E central France, in Rhône-Alpes region. Capital: Bourg. Pop: 539 006 (2003 est). Area: 5785 sq km (2256 sq miles)

2. a river in E France, rising in the Jura Mountains and flowing south to the Rhône. Length: 190 km (118 miles)

---

ain ² British  

/ eɪn /

determiner

1. a Scot word for own

---

ain ³ British  

/ ˈɑːjɪn /

noun

1. a variant of ayin

---

Etymology

Origin of ain¹

1700–25; representing Old English ǣgen or Old Norse eiginn; replacing Middle English ( Scots ) awyn, awne, Old English āgen; own

Origin of ʿain³

From the Arabic word ʿayn

Example Sentences

In Amharic they are known as ain, or eyes, and the more of them, the better.

From New York Times

“I ain’ afraid of Specters, all right,” the little boy said, thrusting forward his grubby chin.

From Literature

I ain’ never seen a grownup do that before, all right.

From Literature

Academic freedom was not the ain concern of these organizing efforts, and unions are not particularly sensitized or adept at defending such concerns.

From New York Times

All come in discrete heaps on a round of injera punctured by tiny eyes, or ain, the Amharic term for bubbles trapped in the dough.

From New York Times