Dictionary

fain en · ADJ · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• /feɪn/ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
• (General-American) audio

Etymology

From Middle English fain (“enjoyable, pleasing; fond of; glad, pleased; good, suitable; happy, joyful”), from Old English fægen (“happy, joyful, fain”), from Proto-West Germanic *fagan (“glad”), from Proto-Germanic *faganaz (“glad”), from Proto-Indo-European *peḱ- (“joyful; pretty”). Cognates * Old Norse fagna (“to rejoice”), feginn (“glad, joyful”) * Gothic 𐍆𐌰𐌲𐌹𐌽𐍉𐌽 (faginōn, “to rejoice”) * Old High German fehan, gifehan (“to rejoice”) * Old Saxon fagan, fagin

Meanings

1. (UK, archaic, dialectal, poetic) 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. 1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Sixt”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene v], page 108, column 1:
   • 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. 1786, Robert Burns, “The Twa Dogs, a Tale”, in Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect. […], 2nd edition, volume I, Edinburgh: […] T[homas] Cadell, […], and William Creech, […], published 1793, →OCLC, page 10:
   • Then mean I, that I should be wonderous fain / That shamefully they one and all were slain, / Whoever against Love mean aught amiss. 1837, William Wordsworth, “[Memorials of a Tour in Italy.] The Cuckoo and the Nightingale. (From Chaucer.)”, in Poems, Chiefly of Early and Late Years; […] (The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth; VII), London: Edward Moxon, […], published 1842, →OCLC, stanza XXVI, page 155:
   • [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. 1829 May 2, [Walter Scott], chapter IV, in Anne of Geierstein; or, The Maiden of the Mist. […], volume I, Edinburgh: […] [Ballantyne and Company] for Cadell and Co., […]; London: Simpkin and Marshall, […], →OCLC, page 113:
   • And fain and full was my heart, and I took him to my breast, / And I cherished him soft and warm, for I deemed I had gotten the best. 1877, William Morris, “Of the Dream of Gudrun the Daughter of Giuki”, in The Story of Sigurd the Volsung and the Fall of the Niblungs, London: Ellis and White, […], →OCLC, book III (Brynhild), page 176:
   • [M]y master is quite fain of his company. 1863, [Elizabeth] Gaskell, “A Refractory Pupil”, in Sylvia’s Lovers. […], volume I, London: Smith, Elder and Co., […], →OCLC, page 195:
   • O love, of my death my life is fain, / (The willows wave on the water-way,) / Your cheek and mine are cold in the rain, / But warm they'll be when we meet again. / (With a wind blown night and day.) 1871–1873 (date written), Dante Gabriel Rossetti, “A Death-parting”, in Ballads and Sonnets, London: Ellis and White, […], published 1881, →OCLC, stanza 3, page 287, lines 11–15:
   • O lamentable brother! if those pity thee, / Am I not fain of all thy lone eyes promise me; / Half a fool's kingdom, far from men who sow and reap, / All their days vanity? 1892 August, Ernest Dowson, “To One in Bedlam”, in W[illiam] H[enry] Wilkins, Hubert Crackanthorpe, editors, The Albemarle: A Monthly Review, volume II, number 2, London: Swan Sonnenschein & Co., →OCLC, stanza 3, page 67, lines 9–10:
2. (UK, archaic, dialectal, poetic) Often followed by of: glad, well-pleased. ▸ Glad, contented, or satisfied to do something in the absence of a better alternative.
   • [T]hey vvere faine to patche uppe the Matter vvith a little piece of Paper clappid over the foreſaid VVordes, […] 1559, John Strype, quoting John Feckenham, “[An Appendix; being a Repository of Faithful Extracts out of Various Records and Registers, […].] Numb[er] IX. The Oration of the Reverend Father in God Mr. Dr. Fecknam, Abbott of Westminster, in the Parliament House, 1559, against the Bill for the Liturgy.”, in Annals of the Reformation and Establishment of Religion, and Other Various Occurrences in the Church of England; […], volume I, London: […] John Wyat, […], published 1709, →OCLC, page 26:
   • By this heaunly ground I tread on, I muſt be faine to pavvne both my plate, & the tapeſtry of my dining chambers. c. 1596–1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, The Second Part of Henrie the Fourth, […], quarto edition, London: […] V[alentine] S[immes] for Andrew Wise, and William Aspley, published 1600, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i], signature C3, recto:
   • [T]he Learned Caſtalio [i.e., Sebastian Castellio] vvas fain to make Trenchers at Baſle to keep himſelf from ſtarving, vvhen his [Michel de Montaigne's] Father vvould have given any Money for ſuch a Tutor for his Son, and Caſtalio have vvillingly embraced ſuch an Imployment upon very reaſonable Terms, but this vvas for vvant of Intelligence. 1693, [John Locke], “§89”, in Some Thoughts Concerning Education, London: […] A[wnsham] and J[ohn] Churchill, […], →OCLC, page 105:
   • Having pledged herself to remain with her aunt to the end, Christbel was fain to make the best of her life at Mount Royal, and in order to do this she must needs keep on good terms with her cousin. 1882, [Mary Elizabeth Braddon], “‘That Lip and Voice are Mute for Ever’”, in Mount Royal […], volume II, London: John and Robert Maxwell […], →OCLC, page 115:
3. (UK, archaic, broadly, dialectal, poetic) Often followed by of: glad, well-pleased. ▸ Compelled or obliged to.
   • Many Plants are mention'd in Scripture vvhich are not diſtinctly knovvn in our Countries, or under ſuch Names in the Original, as they are fain to be rendred by analogy, or by the name of Vegetables of good affinity unto them, and ſo maintain the textual ſenſe, though in ſome variation from identity. c. 1683 (date written), Thomas Brown [i.e., Thomas Browne], “Tract I. Observations upon Several Plants Mention’d in Scripture.”, in [Thomas Tenison], editor, Certain Miscellany Tracts, London: […] Charles Mearn, […], published 1683, →OCLC, page 7:
   • And the uſe of Fire-Guns in that taking of Conſtantinople is notorious, as you may ſee in Laonicus Chalcocondylas De Rebus Turcicis, one of the Byzantine Hiſtorians, lib. 7. vvho there makes mention of a Cannon of ſo vaſt a bigneſs, that it vvas fain to be dravvn by ſeventy yoke of Oxen and tvvo thouſand Men. 1685, Henry More, “Three Objections from a Considerate Hand. […]”, in Paralipomena Prophetica Containing Several Supplements and Defences of Dr Henry More His Expositions of the Prophet Daniel and the Apocalypse, […], London: […] Walter Kettilby […], →OCLC, page 315:
   • [I]n this condition, he [Jesus] is fain to bear his burdenſom Croſs tovvards the place of his Execution, John 19. 17. till he vvas able to carry it no longer, but even fainted under it; […] 1676, [Matthew Hale], “Of the Knowledge of Christ Crucified”, in Contemplations Moral and Divine. […], London: […] William Godbid, for William Shrowsbury […], and John Leigh […], →OCLC, page 207:
   • Penker in his ſermõ [sermon] ſo loſt his voice that he was faine to leaue of [off] & come downe in the middes. c. 1513 (date written), Thomas More, “The History of King Richard the Thirde (Vnfinished) […]”, in Wyllyam Rastell [i.e., William Rastell], editor, The Workes of Sir Thomas More Knyght, […], London: […] Iohn Cawod, Iohn Waly, and Richarde Tottell, published 30 April 1557, →OCLC, page 58, column 1:
4. (UK, archaic, dialectal) Chiefly followed by to, or (obsolete) for or of: eager or willing, or inclined.
   • Man and Birds are fayne of climbing high. 1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i], page 125, column 2:
5. (archaic, obsolete, qualifier:except in fair and fain) 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!". 1861, Dante Alighieri, “The New Life. (La Vita Nuova.)”, in Dante Gabriel Rossetti, transl., The Early Italian Poets from Ciullo D’Alcamo to Dante Alighieri […], London: Smith, Elder and Co., […], →OCLC, part II (Dante and His Circle), page 275:
6. (archaic, obsolete) Accustomed, apt, wont.
   • [S]carcely ſhe could ryde, / And eke through heauie armes, vvhich ſore annoyd / The Prince on foot, not vvonted ſo to fare; / VVhoſe ſteadie hand vvas faine his ſteede to guyde, / And all the vvay from trotting hard to ſpare, / So vvas his toyle the more, the more that vvas his care. 1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book IV, Canto VIII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], part II (books IV–VI), London: […] [Richard Field] for William Ponsonby, →OCLC, stanza 37, page 118:
   • [T]o a buſie man temptation is fain to climbe up together vvith his buſineſſes, and ſins creep upon him onely by accidents and occaſions; vvhereas to an idle perſon they come in a full body, and vvith open violence, and the impudence of a reſtleſſe importunity. 1651, Jer[emy] Taylor, “Consideration of the General Instruments and Means Serving to a Holy Life: By Way of Introduction”, in The Rule and Exercises of Holy Living. […], 2nd edition, London: […] Francis Ashe […], →OCLC, section I (The First General Instrument of Holy Living: Care of Our Time), pages 6–7:

Forms

Antonyms

unwilling · loath · averse · disinclined · reluctant

Deriveds

unfain · fainness

Synonyms

lief · raring · disposed · keen

Translations (7)

mk задоволен (glad, contented, or satisfied to do something in the absence of a better alternative) · hu elégedett (glad, contented, or satisfied to do something in the absence of a better alternative) · bg доволен (glad, contented, or satisfied to do something in the absence of a better alternative) · cs spokojený (glad, contented, or satisfied to do something in the absence of a better alternative) · cs rád (glad, contented, or satisfied to do something in the absence of a better alternative) · nl tevreden (glad, contented, or satisfied to do something in the absence of a better alternative) · fi tyytyväinen (glad, contented, or satisfied to do something in the absence of a better alternative)

fain en · ADV · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• /feɪn/ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
• (General-American) audio

Etymology

From Middle English fain (“eagerly, willingly; gladly, joyfully”), from fain (adjective): see etymology 1.

Meanings

1. (archaic, obsolete) Chiefly preceded or followed by would. ▸ With joy or pleasure; gladly.
   • And here, as I write, the faint, scarcely perceptible, ghost-like suspicion of a scent—a mere nostalgic fancy, compound, generic, synthetic and all-embracing—an abstract olfactory symbol of the "Tout Paris" of fifty years ago, comes back to me out of the past; and fain would I inhale it in all its pristine fulness and vigour. 1891, George du Maurier, “Part First”, in Peter Ibbetson […], New York, N.Y.: Harper and Brothers, […], →OCLC, pages 63–64:
   • I vvould faine knovv vvhat you haue to ſay. 1598–1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, Much Adoe about Nothing. […], quarto edition, London: […] V[alentine] S[immes] for Andrew Wise, and William Aspley, published 1600, →OCLC, [Act III, scene v], signature F2, verso:
   • 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. 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book I, Canto IIII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 10, page 48:
   • Yet dearely I love you, and vvould be lov'd faine, / But am betroth'd unto your enemie, […] 1609–1610 (date written), J[ohn] Donne, “[Holy Sonnets] Sonnet X [Batter My Heart, Three-Person’d God]”, in Poems, […] with Elegies on the Authors Death, London: […] M[iles] F[lesher] for Iohn Marriot, […], published 1633, →OCLC, page 38:
   • She who would fain give the starry worlds to the object of her affection—it is a fine and beautiful pride which makes her shrink from aught of benefit from him. 1831, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XI, in Romance and Reality. […], volume III, London: Henry Colburn and Richard Bentley, […], →OCLC, page 223:
   • The Second Thing I vvould fain have had, vvas a Tobacco-Pipe, but it vvas impoſſible to me to make one, hovvever I found a Contrivance for that too at laſt. 1719 May 6 (Gregorian calendar), [Daniel Defoe], The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, […], 3rd edition, London: […] W[illiam] Taylor […], published 1719, →OCLC, pages 126–127:
   • [S]he taketh her hands in her hands and kisseth her sweet and fain: […] 1877, William Morris, “Of the Dream of Gudrun the Daughter of Giuki”, in The Story of Sigurd the Volsung and the Fall of the Niblungs, London: Ellis and White, […], →OCLC, book III (Brynhild), page 173:
   • A heavy weight is on his lids, / His limbs move slow with heaviness, / And he full fain would sleep. 1801, Robert Southey, “The Tenth Book”, in Thalaba the Destroyer, volume II, London: […] [F]or T[homas] N[orton] Longman and O[wen] Rees, […], by Biggs and Cottle, […], →OCLC, page 216:
   • How faine (like Pilate) would I wash my hands / Of this most greeuous murther. c. 1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Richard the Third: […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iv]:
   • Hence it's evident, that vvere our Eyes turned into the Nature of Microſcopes, vve […] ſhou'd be derpiv'd of the foremention'd Advantage vve at preſent receive by the Viſive Faculty; and have left us only the empty Amuſement of Seeing, vvithout any other benefit ariſing from it. But in that Caſe, it vvill perhaps be ſaid, our Sight vvou'd be endued vvith a far greater Sharpneſs and Penetration than it novv hath. But I vvou'd fain knovv vvherein conſiſts that Sharpneſs, vvhich is eſteem'd ſo great an Excellency of Sight. 1709, George Berkeley, “[Section] LXXXVI. The Case of Microscopical Eyes, Consider’d.”, in An Essay towards a New Theory of Vision, Dublin: […] Aaron Rhames, […], for Jeremy [i.e., Jeremiah] Pepyat, […], →OCLC, pages 97–98:
2. (archaic, obsolete) Chiefly preceded or followed by would. ▸ By choice or will; willingly.
   • As a matter of fact, although Woman means everything to Man’s sexuality, and is the embodiment of all that his reproductive instinct can desire, even when it is at its keenest, Man means very little to Woman. He is, after all, no more than the sparking-plug that sets an elaborate process going, and the brief moment in which his share in her business is accomplished, and the incomplete pleasure it affords her, are ridiculously insignificant when compared with the importance he himself would fain attach to them. 1923, Anthony Ludovici, “The Positive Man and the Positive Woman”, in Woman; A Vindication, London: Constable & Co., →OCLC:
   • Now vvould I giue a thouſand furlongs of Sea, for an Acre of barren ground: Long heath, Brovvne firrs, any thing; the vvills aboue be done, but I vvould faine dye a dry death. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i], page 1, column 2:
   • For to tell you truth, I love him [Jesus], because I vvas by him eaſed of my burden, and I am vveary of my invvard ſickneſs; I vvould fain be vvhere I ſhall die no more, and vvith the Company that ſhall continually cry Holy, Holy, Holy. 1678, John Bunyan, The Pilgrim’s Progress from This World, to That which is to Come: […], London: […] Nath[aniel] Ponder […], →OCLC, page 58:
   • See now, I will for the second time bathe me in this living bath. Fain would I add to my beauty and my length of days if that be possible. 1886 October – 1887 January, H[enry] Rider Haggard, “The Spirit of Life”, in She: A History of Adventure, London: Longmans, Green, and Co., published 1887, →OCLC, page 290:

Forms

Synonyms

lief

fain en · VERB · etymology 3

Pronunciation

• /feɪn/ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
• (General-American) audio

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.

Meanings

1. (archaic, obsolete, rare, transitive) To be delighted or glad about (someone or something); to rejoice in; also, to favour or prefer (someone or something).
   • Hovv often vvould the Svvaines prepare their Morrice & their May / To haue a ſight of her, vvhen all enamoured vvent their vvay? / The ſprevvſeſt Citie-Lads for her vvould faine the Countrie-aire, / And that their prouder Girles had but adultrate beauties ſvvaire, […] 1606, William Warner, “The Sixteenth Booke. Chapter CI.”, in A Continuance of Albions England: […], London: […] Felix Kyngston [and Richard Bradock?] for George Potter, […], →OCLC, page 399:
2. (archaic, obsolete, transitive) To make (someone) glad; to gladden; hence, to congratulate (someone); to welcome (someone).
3. (Germanic, archaic, intransitive, obsolete) To celebrate or worship; specifically, to offer an oblation which is not a sacrificial blót (“ceremonial offering”).
4. (archaic, intransitive, obsolete) 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. 1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book V, Canto XII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], part II (books IV–VI), London: […] [Richard Field] for William Ponsonby, →OCLC, stanza 36, page 351:
5. (archaic, intransitive, obsolete) To desire, to wish.

Forms

Synonyms

gladden · elevate · light up · upcheer · please · perk up · gay · delight · bright · raise someone's spirits · warm someone's heart · make someone's day · cheer · fain · cheer up · laetificate · content · happy · jollify · cherish · begladden · turn the frown upside down · gratify · exhilarate · enrapture · gladden someone's heart · beatify · warm the cockles of someone's heart · delight · enbliss · perk up · fetch · blissen · happify · elate · hearten · rejoice

Translations (1)

fi juhlia ((Germanic paganism) to celebrate or worship; to offer an oblation which is not a sacrificial blót — see also celebrate, worship)