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fain - 6 dictionary results

fain

  [feyn]
Use fain in a Sentence
–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 fair 1
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To fain
fain   (fān)   
adv.  
  1. Happily; gladly: "I would fain improve every opportunity to wonder and worship, as a sunflower welcomes the light" (Henry David Thoreau).
  2. Archaic Preferably; rather.
adj.   Archaic
  1. Ready; willing.
  2. Pleased; happy.
  3. Obliged or required.

[Middle English, from Old English fægen, joyful, glad.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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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.

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.

Fain

Fain\, v. t. & i. To be glad; to wish or desire. [Obs.]

Whoso fair thing does fain to see. --Spencer.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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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").
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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