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• cain
  cain

  noun

  rent paid in kind, especially a percentage of a farm crop.
• Cain
  Cain

  noun

  (in the Bible) the first son of Adam and Eve, who murdered his brother Abel.

cain

¹ American  

[kayn] / keɪn /

Scot., kane

noun

Scot. and Irish English.

1. rent paid in kind, especially a percentage of a farm crop.

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Cain ² American  

[kayn] / keɪn /

noun

1. (in the Bible) the first son of Adam and Eve, who murdered his brother Abel.

2. a murderer.

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idioms

1. raise Cain,

   1. become angry or violent.

      He'll raise Cain when he finds out I lost his watch.

   2. to behave in a boisterous manner; cause a disturbance.

      The students raised Cain while the teacher was out.

Cain ³ American  

[kayn] / keɪn /

noun

1. James M., 1892–1977, U.S. novelist.

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Cain ¹ British  

/ keɪn /

noun

1. the first son of Adam and Eve, who killed his brother Abel (Genesis 4:1–16)

2. 1. to cause a commotion

   2. to react or protest heatedly

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cain ² British  

/ keɪn /

noun

1. history (in Scotland and Ireland) payment in kind, usually farm produce paid as rent

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Cain More Idioms  

1. see raise Cain.

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Other Word Forms

• Cainism
  noun
• Cainitic
  adjective

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Etymology

Origin of cain

Middle English ( Scots ) cane, from Scots Gaelic; compare Old Irish cáin “statute, law, rent”

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cain Cain

The modern woman has learned that it is a club that raises cain.

From Model Speeches for Practise by Grenville Kleiser

An I goes down to de Court House, and when I see dem cannons in deyard I cain keep from cryin'.

From Slave Narratives: a Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves Tennessee Narratives by Work Projects Administration

Yo' see I ham 't been used t' hit down whar I lived an' I cain 't feel comfortable with a lot of machinery so close to me.

From The Boy Scout Fire Fighters by Irving Crump

Saergus the Young, also-- *     *     *     *     * Violated the cain he had adopted, For the vehement Dungalach.

From The Most Ancient Lives of Saint Patrick Including the Life by Jocelin, Hitherto Unpublished in America, and His Extant Writings by James O'Leary

Uncle Marion sho cain give yo a helpin good luck hand.

From Slave Narratives: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States from Interviews with Former Slaves, Arkansas Narratives, Part 4 by Work Projects Administration

According to Tulsa World, Journey keyboardist Jonathan Cain told the crowd to hang tight while the medical team checked on the drummer.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 2026

The body of 45-year-old Hannah Cain, known to her patients as Dr Hannah Terry, was found at a property in Fern Hill, Dersingham, Norfolk, on Sunday.

From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026

After reopening on Wednesday, Grimston Medical Centre said it would not be commenting "on the circumstances surrounding the tragic death" of Hannah Cain.

From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026

"Our thoughts remain with the family of Hannah Cain at this time."

From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026

She squared her shoulders as Cain strode straight toward her, his thick lips parting in a grin.

From "Throne of Glass" by Sarah J. Maas

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