cain

C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Literary · Archaic

n. A person who kills their own brother or someone close to them.

n. A literary or archaic allusion to a murderer, specifically one who commits fratricide.

“The poet described the traitor as a modern Cain, hated by everyone.”

“The protagonist felt the brand of Cain upon his brow after the accidental death of his companion, haunted by a guilt he could not escape.”

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun

n. A common family name in English-speaking countries.

n. A surname of English and Irish origin, sometimes derived from the biblical name or from occupational roots.

“The author of the book is a man named James M. Cain.”

“The Cain family has lived in this valley for generations, according to the local parish records.”