rainy

From Middle English reyny, from Old English reġniġ, from Proto-West Germanic *regnag, from Proto-Germanic *regnagaz (“rainy”), equivalent to rain +‎ -y. Cognate with Saterland Frisian rienig (“rainy”), West Frisian reinich (“rainy”), Dutch regenig (“rainy”), German regnig (“rainy”), Swedish regnig (“rainy”).

• IPA^(key): /ˈɹeɪni/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -eɪni

rainy (comparative rainier, superlative rainiest)

1. Pouring with rain; wet; showery

   Due to the rainy weather, we decided not to play in the park.

   It's a very rainy day, so let's stay indoors.

   • 1954 August, H. M. Madgwick, “The Blaenau Festiniog Tunnel”, in Railway Magazine, page 569:

     This is itself a cheerless spot, particularly on a rainy day, when, overshadowed by the great massif of rock that towers in the background, and surrounded by the grey and cheerless quarries, it has a depressing character much in contrast with the green verdure encountered on the northern end of this interesting branch line.

• Iryna

From raić +‎ -iny.

• (Greater Poland):
  • (Kuyavia) IPA^(key): /raˈi.nɘ/

rainy nvir pl

1. (Kuyavia) matchmaking; pairing

• Józef Bliziński (1860) “rainy”, in Abecadłowy spis wyrazów języka ludowego w Kujawach i Galicyi Zachodniej (in Polish), Warszawa, page 630
• Oskar Kolberg (1867) “rainy”, in Dzieła wszystkie: Kujawy (in Polish), page 276