Middle English Dictionary Entry

rein n.(1)
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Entry Info

Forms rein n.(1) Also reine, reinne, reigne, rẹ̄n, rain(e & (early) reȝn, ræin, rien, hregn & (early gen.) rænæs & (errors) rne, repe, ray-; pl. reines, etc. & ranis & (early) reinas, rẹ̄nas, ræiȝnæs.
Etymology OE regn, rēn, (Merc.) rægn, LOE hrægn.

Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)

1a.
(a) Rain; gret ~, heavy rain; litel ~, fine rain; (b) a spell of rain, shower of rain; (c) strem of ~, a stream, brook; ~ of oure lord(es, ?divine or sacred rain.
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1b.
In cpds. & combs.: (a) ~ boue [OE rēn-boga], a rainbow; also, the colors of the rainbow, a spectrum; (b) ~ water [OE rēn-wæter], rain water; (c) ~ beten (bironnen), drenched with rain; reines drope, a drop of rain; ~ foul, the green woodpecker (Picus viridis); ~ frost, ?error for rim-frost n.; ~ rift, ?a gap in the clouds through which rain is presumed to fall; rein(es shour [OE rēn-scūr], a shower of rain, rain; ~ time, a period of rain; ~ weder, rainy weather.
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2.
(a) Something falling to earth like rain: fire, blood, etc.; also fig. of grace, righteousness, etc.; (b) a rush or torrent of water.
Show 10 Quotations
3.
In proverbs and prov. expressions.
Show 15 Quotations
4.
In surnames and place names.
Show 5 Quotations

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Quot. c1440(a1400) Awntyrs Arth. (Thrn) 161 removed from sense 3. to rōn n.(3), q.v.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

  • a1500 Methodius(3) (Stw 953)295 : Thus was þe ward with flode [&] rynne [?read: reynne; rimes: sayne, a-geyn, certen] dystroyd, castell, town, & wone.
Note: Rimes point to an original 'reinne' (i.e. this word, rein n.(1) = 'rain'), and the emendation accepted here, though perhaps amounting to an editorial smoothing, seems the most plausible way to get there. The MS reading as it stands ('flode rynne') is open to multiple conjectural interpretations: 'rynne' could be a past participle of rennen v. ('the world was with flood o'r-run'); or a noun forming a nominal compound with 'flode': a 'flood(ing) rain' (which again would put it in this word); a 'flood-rush' (with the second element ren n. or rine n.); but the participial interpretation makes the next line awkward and the rimes impossible; 'flood-rain' does not suit the compounding habits of either element; and the others are all but excluded by the rime.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc. (sense 1b.(a)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. rainbow.

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