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fain

adj
/feɪn/US

Etymology

From Middle English fainen (“to be glad or joyful, rejoice; to make happy, gladden; to welcome; of an animal: to show happiness, as by wagging the tail; to act fawningly or flatteringly”), from Old English fæġnian (“to be glad, rejoice; to celebrate; to be delighted with, applaud; to wish for”), from Proto-West Germanic *faginōn (“to be glad, rejoice; to make glad, gladden”), from Proto-Germanic *faginōną (“to be glad, rejoice”), from *faganaz (“glad”): see further at etymology 1. Doublet of fawn.

  1. inherited from *peḱ-✻ — “joyful; pretty”
  2. inherited from *faganaz✻ — “glad”
  3. inherited from *fagan✻ — “glad”
  4. inherited from fægen — “happy, joyful, fain”
  5. inherited from fain — “enjoyable, pleasing; fond of; glad, pleased; good, suitable; happy, joyful”

Definitions

  1. Often followed by of

    Often followed by of: glad, well-pleased.

    • VVhat is the truſt or ſtrength of fooliſh man? / They that of late vvere daring vvith their ſcoffes, / Are glad and faine by flight to ſaue themſelues.
    • The cantie, auld folks, crackin crouſe, / The young ones ranting thro' the houſe— / My heart has been ſae fain to ſee them, / That I for joy hae barkit vvi' them.
    • [F]ine words to make foolish maidens fain. But do not excuse it; it is your country-fashion, and we know how to treat it as such.

  2. Chiefly followed by to, or (obsolete) for or of

    Chiefly followed by to, or (obsolete) for or of: eager or willing, or inclined.

    • Man and Birds are fayne of climbing high.

  3. Favourable, well-disposed.

    • I felt a spirit of love begin to stir / Within my heart, long time unfelt till then; / And saw Love coming towards me, fair and fain, / (That I scarce knew him for his joyful cheer,) / Saying, "Be now indeed my worshipper!".
  4. ›+ 8 more definitions

    1. Accustomed, apt, wont.

    2. Chiefly preceded or followed by would.

      • And in her hand ſhe held a mirrhour bright, / VVherein her face ſhe often vevved fayne, / And in her ſelfe-lou'd ſemblance tooke delight; / For ſhe vvas vvondrous faire, as any liuing vvight.
      • How faine (like Pilate) would I wash my hands / Of this most greeuous murther.
      • I vvould faine knovv vvhat you haue to ſay.

    3. To be delighted or glad about (someone or something)

      To be delighted or glad about (someone or something); to rejoice in; also, to favour or prefer (someone or something).

    4. To make (someone) glad

      To make (someone) glad; to gladden; hence, to congratulate (someone); to welcome (someone).

    5. To celebrate or worship

      To celebrate or worship; specifically, to offer an oblation which is not a sacrificial blót (“ceremonial offering”).

    6. Chiefly followed by of, in, on, or to

      Chiefly followed by of, in, on, or to: to be delighted or glad; to rejoice.

      • A diſtaffe in her other hand ſhe had, / Vpon the vvhich ſhe litle ſpinnes, but ſpils, / And faynes to vveaue falſe tales and leaſings bad, / To throvv amongſt the good, vvhich others had diſprad.

    7. To desire, to wish.

    8. A surname.

The neighborhood

Vish — recursive loop

No curated loop yet for fain. Loops are being traced one word at a time while the ingestion pipeline matures.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA