English
sain
Sain comes from Proto-Germanic *segnōną ‘to mark with a cross, bless’, and goes back to Proto-Italic *segnom ‘sign’.
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*segnom‘sign’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEsignum‘visible indication: sign, mark, signal’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEsignō
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*segnōną‘to mark with a cross, bless’reconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150sēnian
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500sainen
- Englishearliest quotation 1828sain
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*segnom‘sign’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEsignum‘visible indication: sign, mark, signal’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEsignō
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*segnōną‘to mark with a cross, bless’reconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150sēnian
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500sainen
- Englishearliest quotation 1828sain
Earliest quotation: 1828, Thomas Keightley, The Fairy Mythology: “Saining is the grand protection against them; a Shetlander…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *sek- ‘to cut’
sex, risk, section, ship, saw, sexual, segment, scarlet, sack, insect, sawyer, sickle, het, dissect, scythe, shingle, sich, sax, seg, sedge, brassica, desiccation, desiccant, 48 more
through Proto-Italic *segnom ‘sign’
significant, signal, significance, designation, ensign, signify, sealing, insignia, signet, signification, assignation, 12 more
through Latin signum ‘visible indication: sign, mark, signal’
through Latin signō
Today it means
verb To make the sign of the cross on or over something or someone.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Italic *segnom / sain