Schrein

German

Etymology

From Middle High German schrīn, from Old High German skrīni, skrīn, from Proto-West Germanic *skrīnī (“shrine, chest”). In older German, Schrein meant exclusively a case or box; the sense “sanctuary” is likely influenced by the English word.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʃʁaɪ̯n/

• Audio

  (file)

• Rhymes: -aɪ̯n

Noun

Schrein m (strong, genitive Schreines or Schreins, plural Schreine)

1. (archaic) a wooden case or box; a cupboard (in general)
2. (also religion) an ornate case, typically but not necessarily wooden, to hold valuable things, especially relics
3. (religion) a sanctuary, especially non-Christian, dedicated to some saint or deity

Declension

Declension of Schrein [masculine, strong]

	singular			plural
	indef.	def.	noun	def.	noun
nominative	ein	der	Schrein	die	Schreine
genitive	eines	des	Schreines, Schreins	der	Schreine
dative	einem	dem	Schrein, Schreine1	den	Schreinen
accusative	einen	den	Schrein	die	Schreine

¹Now rare, see notes.

Derived terms

• Schreiner
• Heiligenschrein
• Reliquienschrein

Further reading

• “Schrein” in Duden online
• “Schrein” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache