cain
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
The first son of Adam and Eve in the Bible, who killed his brother Abel.
The eldest son of Adam and Eve, identified in Genesis as the first murderer for killing his brother Abel.
Simple“In the Bible story, Cain was a farmer who became jealous of his brother.”
In context“The narrative of Cain and Abel is frequently cited in literature as the foundational story of human conflict and sibling rivalry.”
- 02 C2 Proficiency
A person who kills their own brother or someone close to them.
A literary or archaic allusion to a murderer, specifically one who commits fratricide.
Simple“The poet described the traitor as a modern Cain, hated by everyone.”
In context“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.”
Synonymsmurdererfratricide - 03 B1 Intermediate
A common family name in English-speaking countries.
A surname of English and Irish origin, sometimes derived from the biblical name or from occupational roots.
Simple“The author of the book is a man named James M. Cain.”
In context“The Cain family has lived in this valley for generations, according to the local parish records.”
From Hebrew קַיִן (Káyin, “craftsman”), present since Old English.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.