Definitions for FAIN
feɪnfain

Princeton's WordNet(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

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"

Wiktionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

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 Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

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.

Webster Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

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 Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

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 Resources(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. FAIN

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

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. 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.

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

   I would fain die a dry death.

4. 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.

5. Friedrich Nietzsche:

   And be on they guard against the good and the just They would fain curcify those who devise their own virtue -- they hate the lonesome ones.

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