Definitions for FAIN
feɪnfain

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. disposed(p), fain, inclined(p), preparedadverb

   having made preparations

   "prepared to take risks"

2. gladly, lief, fainadverb

   in a willing manner

   "this was gladly agreed to"; "I would fain do it"

WiktionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. fainverb

   To be delighted or glad; to rejoice

2. fainverb

   To gladden

3. fainadverb

   With joy; gladly.

4. fainadjective

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

5. fainadjective

   Satisfied; contented.

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. FAINadjective

   Etymology: feagn, Saxon.

   1. Glad; merry; chearful; fond. It is still retained in Scotland in this sense.

   And in her hand she held a mirrour bright,
   Wherein her face she often viewed fain. Fairy Queen.

   My lips will be fain when I sing unto thee, and so will my soul whom thou hast delivered. Psalm lxxi.

   2. Forced; obliged; compelled. [This signification seems to have arisen from the mistake of the original signification in some ambiguous expressions; as, I was fain to do this, would equally suit with the rest of the sentence, whether it was understood to mean I was compelled, or I was glad to do it for fear of worse. Thus the primary meaning seems to have been early lost.]

   Every weight to shroud it did constrain,
   And this fair couple eke to shroud themselves were fain. Fairy Queen, b. i. cant.
   1. stan. 6.

   Whosoever will hear, he shall find God; whosoever will study to know, shall be also fain to believe. Richard Hooker, b. v.

   I was fain to forswear it; they would else have married me to the rotten medlar. William Shakespeare, Measure for Measure.

   When Hildebrand had accursed Henry IV. there were none so hardy as to defend their lord; wherefore he was fain to humble himself before Hildebrand. Walter Raleigh, Essays.

   The learned Castalio was fain to make trenchers at Basle, to keep himself from starving. John Locke.

2. Fainadverb

   Gladly; very desirously; according to earnest wishes.

   Etymology: from the adjective.

   Now I would give a thousand furlongs of sea for an acre of barren ground: I would fain die a dry death. William Shakespeare.

   Why would’st thou urge me to confess a flame
   I long have stifled, and would fain conceal. Joseph Addison, Cato.

   Fain wou’d I Raphael’s godlike art rehearse,
   And show th’ immortal labours in my verse. Addison.

   The plebeians would fain have a law enacted to lay all mens rights and privileges upon the same level. Jonathan Swift.

3. To Fainverb

   To wish; to desire fondly.

   Etymology: from the noun.

   Fairer than fairest, in his faining eye,
   Whose sole aspect he counts felicity. Edmund Spenser, on Love.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. fain

   Fain is an archaic English term that is used as an adverb or adjective to indicate someone's willingness, eagerness, or preference to do or have something. It implies a sense of being pleased or satisfied by a particular action or state.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Fainadjective

   well-pleased; glad; apt; wont; fond; inclined

2. Fainadjective

   satisfied; contented; also, constrained

3. Fainadverb

   with joy; gladly; -- with wold

4. Fain

   to be glad ; to wish or desire

5. Etymology: [OE. fain, fagen, AS. fgen; akin to OS. fagan, Icel. faginn glad; AS. fgnian to rejoice, OS. fagann, Icel. fagna, Goth. faginn, cf. Goth. fahds joy; and fr. the same root as E. fair. Srr Fair, a., and cf. Fawn to court favor.]

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Fain

   fān, adj. glad or joyful: inclined (with to): content to accept, for want of better: compelled: (Spens.) wont.—v.i. (Spens.) to delight.—adv. gladly.—adv. Fain′ly, gladly.—n. Fain′ness, eagerness. [A.S. fægen, joyful: cf. Ice. feginn, glad.]

2. Fain

   fān, v.i. (Spens.). Same as Feign.

Suggested ResourcesRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. FAIN

   What does FAIN stand for? -- Explore the various meanings for the FAIN acronym on the Abbreviations.com website.

Surnames Frequency by Census RecordsRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. FAIN

   According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Fain is ranked #4379 in terms of the most common surnames in America.
   
   The Fain surname appeared 8,122 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 would have the surname Fain.
   
   81.8% or 6,646 total occurrences were White.
   12% or 976 total occurrences were Black.
   2.6% or 211 total occurrences were of Hispanic origin.
   2% or 166 total occurrences were of two or more races.
   0.8% or 66 total occurrences were American Indian or Alaskan Native.
   0.7% or 57 total occurrences were Asian.

Anagrams for FAIN »

1. an if

2. naif

3. naïf

How to pronounce FAIN?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say FAIN in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of FAIN in Chaldean Numerology is: 6

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of FAIN in Pythagorean Numerology is: 3

Examples of FAIN in a Sentence

1. Ralph Waldo Emerson:

   When a whole nation is roaring Patriotism at the top of its voice, I am fain to explore the cleanness of its hands and purity of its heart.

2. Marcel Proust:

   The bonds that unite another person to ourselves exist only in our mind. Memory as it grows fainter relaxes them, and notwithstanding the illusion by which we would fain be cheated and with which, out of love, friendship, politeness, deference, duty, we cheat other people, we exist alone. Man is the creature that cannot emerge from himself, that knows his fellows only in himself when he asserts the contrary, he is lying.

3. Hindu Poetess:

   The dull-hued turkey apes the gait Of lordly peacock, richly plumed; And thus the poetaster shows When he would fain his verse recite.

4. Joseph Addison:

   'We are always doing', says he, 'something for Posterity, but I would fain see Posterity do something for us.

5. William Shakespeare, "The Tempest", Act 1 scene 1:

   I would fain die a dry death.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=FAIN
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Fain
3. ^ Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
   https://johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/views/search.php?term=FAIN
4. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
5. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/FAIN
6. ^ Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
   https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37683/37683-h/37683-h.htm#:~:text=FAIN
7. ^ Surnames Frequency by Census Records
   https://www.census.gov/topics/population/genealogy/data/2010_surnames.html