The curse of Cain
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
One who is always on the move and has no abiding place is said to be "cursed with the curse of Cain.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “The curse of Cain” mean?
One who is always on the move and has no abiding place is said to be "cursed with the curse of Cain.
Is “The curse of Cain” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.