Fain - Definitions from Dictionary.com

7 results for: Fain

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

fain

–adverb

1.	gladly; willingly: He fain would accept.

–adjective

2.	content; willing: They were fain to go.

3.	Archaic. constrained; obliged: He was fain to obey his Lord.

4.	Archaic. glad; pleased.

5.	Archaic. desirous; eager.

[Origin: bef. 900; ME; OE fæg(e)n; c. ON feginn happy; akin to fair¹

]

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Fain

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

fain Audio Help (fān) Pronunciation Key
adv.

Happily; gladly: "I would fain improve every opportunity to wonder and worship, as a sunflower welcomes the light" (Henry David Thoreau).
Archaic Preferably; rather.

adj. Archaic

Ready; willing.
Pleased; happy.
Obliged or required.

[Middle English, from Old English fægen, joyful, glad.]

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
fain

O.E. fægen, fagen "glad, cheerful, happy," from a common Gmc. root (cf. O.N. feginn "glad," O.H.G. faginon, Goth. faginon "to rejoice").

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

fain
adjective
1.	having made preparations; "prepared to take risks" [syn: disposed]
adverb
1.	in a willing manner; "this was gladly agreed to"; "I would fain do it" [syn: gladly]

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Fain

Fain\, a. [OE. fain, fagen, AS. f[ae]gen; akin to OS. fagan, Icel. faginn glad; AS. f[ae]gnian to rejoice, OS. fagan[=o]n, Icel. fagna, Goth. fagin[=o]n, cf. Goth. fah[=e]ds joy; and fr. the same root as E. fair. Srr Fair, a., and cf. Fawn to court favor.]

1. Well-pleased; glad; apt; wont; fond; inclined.

Men and birds are fain of climbing high. --Shak.

To a busy man, temptation is fainto climb up together with his business. --Jer. Taylor.

2. Satisfied; contented; also, constrained. --Shak.

The learned Castalio was fain to make trechers at Basle to keep himself from starving. --Locke.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Fain

Fain\, adv. With joy; gladly; -- with wold.

He would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat. --Luke xv. 16.

Fain Would I woo her, yet I dare not. --Shak.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Fain