rain

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   anything happening rapidly or in quick successive

   a rain of bullets

2. 2
   verb

   precipitate as rain

   If it rains much more, we can expect some flooding

3. 3
   noun

   Condensed water falling from a cloud.

   We've been having a lot of rain lately.

4. 4
   noun

   An instance of particles or larger pieces of matter moving or falling through air.

   A rain of mortar fire fell on our trenches.

5. 5
   verb

   To have rain fall from the sky.

   Judging by the black cloud, it will rain later today.

6. 6
   verb

   To fall as or like rain.

   Tears rained from her eyes.

7. 7
   verb

   To issue (something) in large quantities.

   The boxer rained punches on his opponent's head.

8. 8
   verb

   Obsolete form of reign.

   Such wondrous science in mans witt to rain.

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *Hréǵʰ-der. Proto-Indo-European *Hréǵʰnos? Proto-Germanic *regną Proto-West Germanic *regn Old English reġn Middle English reyn English rain Inherited from Middle English reyn, rein, from Old English reġn, from Proto-West Germanic *regn, from Proto-Germanic *regną, of uncertain origin. Possibly from pre-Germanic *Hréǵ-no-, from Proto-Indo-European *Hreǵ- (“to flow”), although the consonant reflexes don't match. Cognates Cognate with Yola rhyne, ryne (“rain”), North Frisian Riin, rin (“rain”), Saterland Frisian Rien (“rain”), West Frisian rein (“rain”), Dutch…