Rain, Reign, Rein
Rain is a condensation of moisture that drops to earth. Rain may be used as a noun or a verb, the verb forms are rain, rains, rained, raining. The adjective forms are rainy, rainier and rainiest. A derivitive is raininess. Rain may also be used to describe something that pours down in a fashion akin to rain. Rain comes from the Old English regn.
Reign refers to royal power, the period of rule, to rule as a sovereign. Reign may be used as a noun or a verb, the verb forms are reign, reigns, reigned, reigning. Reign comes from the Old French reignier, meaning to reign.
Rein refers to the part of a horse bridle that is a long strip of leather attached to the bit which is in the mouth of the horse. There are two of these strips, the reins are held by the rider and used to control the horse. Rein may also be used as a verb meaning to guide or control, the verb forms are rein, reins, reined, reining. Rein comes from the Old Frech rene, meaning retain.
(Description from Grammarist) |