Crossword Clue: Cain's brother
Here's the answer to the Cain's brother crossword clue, with an explanation and where it has appeared.
Definition & answer: ABEL
"Cain's brother" points to ABEL, a 4-letter entry that starts with A and finishes on L and carries 2 vowels. Because every square it occupies also belongs to a down or across answer crossing it, you can often back into ABEL from the letters around it rather than the clue alone.
Origin & meaning
Abel was the second son of Adam and Eve, slain by his brother Cain. The A-B-E-L pattern is a common crossword answer.
Common usage
Compact, vowel-friendly answers such as ABEL are a constructor's staple: they slot into a 4-square space and play nicely in both directions. Solvers who recognize it on sight save real time on the daily puzzle.
Crossword trivia
Abel belongs to the small vocabulary of words that appear constantly in grids. Because it's only 4 letters, editors can drop it almost anywhere, which is why regular solvers know it on sight.
Stuck on this clue?
Stuck on "Cain's brother"? Don't force it — solve the clues crossing this slot instead. One or two intersecting letters usually make ABEL obvious. Working from the crossings is the single most useful habit for getting faster.
This clue in different puzzles
The clue "Cain's brother" is just one way to arrive at ABEL. Across different puzzles and editors you may see the same answer clued as "Adam's second son". Recognizing that a single answer can wear many clues is one of the fastest ways to level up as a solver.
Example sentences
- "Abel is the kind of answer that clicks the moment you spot one letter."
- "Seeing 'Cain's brother' in the clue list, an experienced solver pencils in ABEL almost immediately."
- "Once the A was confirmed by the crossing word, ABEL was the only entry that fit."