sain

[ seyn ]

/ seɪn /

verb (used with object) Archaic.

to make the sign of the cross on, as for protection against evil influences.

to bless.

Nearby words

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. 2019

Examples from the Web for sain

Sain and Augustin between them held the sceptre of miniature painting under the Empire.
Cousin Betty|Honore de Balzac
As it nis good, I nill say—or sain, instead of it is not good—I will not say.
Chaucer for Children|Mrs. H. R. Haweis
Of the townships on the north of the Sain River one is Akhs.
The Bbur-nma in English|Babur, Emperor of Hindustan
Sain de Bois-le Comte, one of the staff, became minister plenipotentiary at Turin.
An Englishman in Paris|Albert D. (Albert Dresden) Vandam

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

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

Word Origin for sain

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

Word Origin and History for sain

sain

"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.