sain

[ seyn ]

/ seɪn /

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verb (used with object) Archaic.

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

to bless.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of sain

before 900; Middle English; Old English segnian (cognate with German segnen to bless) <Late Latin signāre to sign with the cross

Words nearby sain

sailplane, sail through, sail under false colors, sailyard, Saimaa, sain, sainfoin, Sainsbury, saint, Saint Agnes's Eve, Saint Albans

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use sain in a sentence

The column was re-formed at Sain Kaleh and proceeded by easier stages 200 miles further southward to Hamadan.
The Cradle of Mankind|W.A. Wigram
The upper villages of Akhs might be, however, those higher up on the Sain-dary (Sr-dary).
The Bbur-nma in English|Babur, Emperor of Hindustan
Ne sait-tu pas que jai promis ta femme de te ramener sain et sauf?
How France Built Her Cathedrals|Elizabeth Boyle O'Reilly
John Splendid crossed himself ere he had mind of his present creed, and "God sain us!"
John Splendid|Neil Munro

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