Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “sain” come from?

sain (English) comes from Middle English sainen, from Old English sēnian, from Proto-Germanic segnōną, from Latin signō, from Latin signum, from Proto-Italic seknom, from Proto-Indo-European sek- — to cut, cut off, sever.

sain (English): To make the sign of the cross on or over...

Definitions

  1. To make the sign of the cross on or over...

Ancestry of “sain”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishsainen—
2Old Englishsēnian—
3Proto-Germanicsegnōnąto mark with a cross, bless
4Latinsignō—
5Latinsignumvisible indication: sign, mark, signal; seal,...
6Proto-Italicseknom—
7Proto-Indo-Europeansek-to cut, cut off, sever
Every word from Proto-Indo-European sek- →