Hain

See also: hain and häin

German

Alternative forms
  • Hayn (obsolete)

Etymology

A Central German form spread by Luther, from Middle High German hagen, from Old High German hagan. Compare the closely related Hag.

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /haɪ̯n/
  • Audio(file)
  • Rhymes: -aɪ̯n
  • Homophone: Hein

Noun

Hain m (strong, genitive Haines or Hains, plural Haine)

  1. (chiefly literary, poetic) grove; woods; small forest
    Synonyms: Gehölz; (regional or archaic) Hag; Holz; Wäldchen
    • 1766, Christoph Martin Wieland, chapter 2, in Geschichte des Agathon‎, volume 1:
      Er ist hernach eine geraume Zeit zu Athen gewesen, und die schönen Reden des Plato haben die romanhafte Erziehung vollendet, die er in den geheiligten Hainen zu Delphi erhalten.
      He then spent some time in Athens, and the beautiful speeches of Plato completed the Romanesque education he received in the sacred groves of Delphi.
    • 1819, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, “Hatem”, in West-östlicher Divan‎:
      Mich vermählst du deinem Flusse, / Der Terrasse, diesem Hain, / Hier soll bis zum letzten Kusse / Dir mein Geist gewidmet sein.
      You marry me to your river, / The terrace, this grove, / Here until the last kiss / My spirit shall be dedicated to you.

Declension
Declension of Hain [masculine, strong]
singular plural
indef. def. noun def. noun
nominative ein der Hain die Haine
genitive eines des Haines, Hains der Haine
dative einem dem Hain, Haine1 den Hainen
accusative einen den Hain die Haine

1Now rare, see notes.

Hyponyms

See also

Further reading
  • “Hain” in Duden online
  • “Hain” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
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