cain
[keyn]
- Scot. and Irish English. rent paid in kind, especially a percentage of a farm crop.
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Origin of cain
Middle English (Scots) cane < Scots Gaelic; compare Old Irish cáin statute, law, rent
Cain1
[keyn]
- the first son of Adam and Eve, who murdered his brother Abel. Gen. 4.
- a murderer.
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- raise Cain, Slang.
- become angry or violent: He'll raise Cain when he finds out I lost his watch.
- to behave in a boisterous manner; cause a disturbance: The students raised Cain while the teacher was out.
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Cain2
[keyn]
- James M.,1892–1977, U.S. novelist.
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Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for cain
Contemporary Examples
In the aftermath of the allegations, Cain dropped out of the race.
When the House of Bishops made its ruling, Cain was appalled.
His scheme to re-integrate the church back into the center of this urban community has won Cain a legion of admirers.
At the final site meeting before construction began, Cain was in a no-nonsense mood.
“Gay people have very often a heightened sensitivity to things of beauty and spirituality,” Cain suggested.
Historical Examples
When Cain wished to slay his brother, he was at no loss for a weapon.
Earth's Holocaust (From "Mosses From An Old Manse")Nathaniel Hawthorne
Cain (gen. Caines, 107): descended from him are Grendel and his kin, 107, 1262 ff.
BeowulfUnknown
He gave Cain a long lifetime in which to repent of his sins.
Henry DunbarM. E. Braddon
Even thus did Cain cease to be his brother's keeper, and so slew him.
Salted With FireGeorge MacDonald
On kin of Cain was the killing avenged by sovran God for slaughtered Abel.
BeowulfAnonymous
cain
kain
- history (in Scotland and Ireland) payment in kind, usually farm produce paid as rent
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Word Origin
C12: from Scottish Gaelic cāin rent, perhaps ultimately from Late Latin canōn tribute (see canon); compare Middle Irish cāin law
Cain
- the first son of Adam and Eve, who killed his brother Abel (Genesis 4:1–16)
- raise Cain
- to cause a commotion
- to react or protest heatedly
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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
Word Origin and History for cain
Cain
elder son of Adam and Eve, from Hebrew Qayin, literally "created one," also "smith," from Semitic stem q-y-n "to form, to fashion." To raise Cain is first recorded 1840. Surnames McCain, McCann, etc., are a contraction of Irish Mac Cathan "son of Cathan," from Celtic cathan, literally "warrior," from cath "battle."
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Idioms and Phrases with cain
Cain
see raise Cain.
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The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.