Cain
/keɪn/
proper noun
Origin
Hebrew
קנה (qanah) — to acquire, to get
Overview
Meaning Now
- The eldest son of Adam and Eve in the Book of Genesis, who killed his brother Abel.
- A term used to denote a fratricide or a treacherous person.
Literal older meaning
Possibly derived from a root meaning 'to acquire' or 'spear'.
Language path
Hebrew → Ancient Greek → Latin → English
Earliest form
קַיִן (Qayin)
Earliest period
11th century BCE
Journey
In the Judeo-Christian tradition, Cain is the archetype of the murderer, specifically the first fratricide. His name is often etymologically linked in the text of Genesis to Eve's exclamation upon his birth: 'I have acquired a man with the help of the Lord'.
Evolution
- Biblical Hebrew
קַיִן (Qayin)
“Firstborn of Adam and Eve”
- Septuagint Greek
Κάϊν (Kaïn)
“Cain”
- Middle English
Cain
“Cain”
Introduced via Vulgate Latin
Connections
Word parts
Qayin
root
acquire
Related across languages
Arabic
Qabil
Cain (in Islamic tradition)
Related words
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External references use DefinedTerm semantics.