blain: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Rare / ArchaicLiterary, Archaic, Medical (Historical)
Quick answer
What does “blain” mean?
An inflamed sore or blister on the skin.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An inflamed sore or blister on the skin.
Often used to refer to a blister or pustule, typically one associated with a disease, such as in "the blains of plague".
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant contemporary difference. The word is equally archaic and obsolete in both varieties.
Connotations
Connotes an old-fashioned or plague-related affliction.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both, primarily found in older texts like the King James Bible.
Grammar
How to Use “blain” in a Sentence
suffer from ~afflicted with ~a ~ on (body part)Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Rarely used, only in historical/medical history contexts.
Everyday
Virtually never used in modern conversation.
Technical
Obsolete in modern medical terminology.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “blain”
- Using it as a modern term for a pimple or common skin irritation.
- Confusing it with 'blaze' or 'blame' in spelling.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an archaic word rarely used outside of historical or literary contexts.
No, 'blain' is solely a noun. There is no standard verb form.
It appears in the King James Bible (Exodus 9:9-10) as one of the plagues of Egypt: '...and it shall become small dust in all the land of Egypt, and shall be a boil breaking forth with blains upon man, and upon beast.'
For active vocabulary, no. It is useful only for passive recognition when reading very old texts or specialised historical works.
An inflamed sore or blister on the skin.
Blain is usually literary, archaic, medical (historical) in register.
Blain: in British English it is pronounced /bleɪn/, and in American English it is pronounced /bleɪn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms; archaic term]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'BLAIN' as a BLAIstered INflammation.
Conceptual Metaphor
Disease as corruption or visible decay.
Practice
Quiz
In what context is the word 'blain' most likely to be encountered today?