Lexical Definition

‎σαίνω‎ saínō (sah'-ee-no) to shake ^G:V
akin to ‎σείω‎

move.

• to wag (as a dog its tail fawningly), i.e. (generally) to shake (figuratively, disturb)

Abbott-Smith

* σαίνω
1. prop. (Hom., al.), of dogs, to wag the tail, fawn.
2. Metaph., of persons, c. acc., to fawn upon, flatter, beguile: pass., I Th 3:3 (for conjectural emendations of the text, v. ICC, and M, Th., in l.).†

Abbott-Smith References

Liddell-Scott-Jones

σαίνω,

[Refs 8th c.BC+]: Epic dialect imperfect σαῖνον [Refs 8th c.BC+]: aorist ἔσηνα [Refs]; Doric dialect ἔσᾱνα [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—passive, [Refs 4th c.BC+]:—properly of dogs, wag the tail, fawn, ὅτ᾽ ἂν ἀμφὶ ἄνακτα κύνες.. σαίνωσι [Refs 8th c.BC+], of the dog Argus, [Refs 8th c.BC+] wagged his tail, Hemsterhuis, compare [Refs 4th c.BC+]

__II metaphorically of persons, fawn, cringe, ὑδαρεῖ σ. φιλότητι [Refs 5th c.BC+]; σ. ποτὶ ἀγγελίαν greet it with joy, [Refs]
__III with accusative person, fawn upon, κέρκῳ τινά [Refs 5th c.BC+]; so of fishes, σαίνοντες οὐραίοισι τὴν κεκτημένην [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__III.2 fawn on, pay court to, greet, τινα [Refs 5th c.BC+]; σ. μόρον cringe to it, seek to avert it, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; παιδός με σαίνει φθόγγος greets me, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; φαιδρὰ γοῦν ἀπ᾽ ὀμμάτων σαίνει με greets me gladly from her eyes, [Refs]
__III.3 gladden, especially with hope or conviction, ἐλπίδι κέαρ [Refs 5th c.BC+]; so σ. τὴν ὑπόσχεσιν receive it with marks of gladness, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]:—passive, σαίνομαι δ᾽ ὑπ᾽ ἐλπίδος [Refs 4th c.BC+]
__III.4 beguile, cozen, deceive, ἡ δ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἐν σκότῳ λήθουσά με ἔσαιν᾽ Ἐρινύς [Refs 5th c.BC+]; σ. μ᾽ ἔννυχος φρυκτωρία seeks to deceive me, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__III.5 in [NT] seems to mean to be shaken, disturbed; σαινόμενοι τοῖς λεγομένοις ἐδάκρυον [Refs 3rd c.AD+]; σαίνεται· κινεῖται, σαλεύεται, ταράττεται, [Refs 5th c.AD+]; but compare σιαίνω.

_{LSJ Scripture Refs: 1Thess.3.3}