Cain

¹

[ keyn ]

noun

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

Cain

²

[ keyn ]

noun

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

cain

³

[ keyn ]

noun

, Scot. and Irish English.

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

cain

¹

/ keɪn /

noun

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

Cain

²

/ keɪn /

noun

1. the first son of Adam and Eve, who killed his brother Abel (Genesis 4:1–16)
2. raise Cain
   1. to cause a commotion
   2. to react or protest heatedly

Other Words From

• Cainism noun
• Cain·it·ic [key-, nit, -ik], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Cain¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of Cain¹

C12: from Scottish Gaelic cāin rent, perhaps ultimately from Late Latin canōn tribute (see canon ); compare Middle Irish cāin law

Idioms and Phrases

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.

More idioms and phrases containing Cain

see raise Cain .

Example Sentences

“Punish,” the latest offering from the Southern Gothic alt-pop star Ethel Cain, is a smoldering slow burn, a sparse piano ballad that stretches for nearly seven minutes and gradually corrodes.

From New York Times

“Frogs” is sort of bookended by examples of spiritual collapse, with the murder of Cain and Abel at the beginning and the Kristofferson song at the end.

From Los Angeles Times

“California will fight back, and it has the means to fight back,” Cain said.

From Los Angeles Times

Trump sang this same remix himself during an interview with Fox & Friends on Sunday, in which he denied ever saying "Lock her up" while speaking to co-host Will Cain on the subject.

From Salon

He made this claim during an interview with Fox & Friends on Sunday, after co-host Will Cain tried to portray the former president as merciful.

From Salon