What does fain mean?
Definitions for fain
feɪnfain
This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word fain.
Princeton's WordNet
disposed(p), fain, inclined(p), preparedadverb
having made preparations
"prepared to take risks"
gladly, lief, fainadverb
in a willing manner
"this was gladly agreed to"; "I would fain do it"
Wiktionary
fainverb
To be delighted or glad; to rejoice
fainverb
To gladden
fainadverb
With joy; gladly.
fainadjective
Well-pleased; glad; apt; wont; fond; inclined.
fainadjective
Satisfied; contented.
Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
FAINadjective
Etymology: feagn, Saxon.
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.
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.
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.
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.
ChatGPT
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 Dictionary
Fainadjective
well-pleased; glad; apt; wont; fond; inclined
Fainadjective
satisfied; contented; also, constrained
Fainadverb
with joy; gladly; -- with wold
Fain
to be glad ; to wish or desire
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
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.]
Fain
fān, v.i. (Spens.). Same as Feign.
Suggested Resources
FAIN
What does FAIN stand for? -- Explore the various meanings for the FAIN acronym on the Abbreviations.com website.
Surnames Frequency by Census Records
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 »
an if
naif
naïf
Numerology
Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of fain in Chaldean Numerology is: 6
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of fain in Pythagorean Numerology is: 3
Examples of fain in a Sentence
'We are always doing', says he, 'something for Posterity, but I would fain see Posterity do something for us.
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.
William Shakespeare, "The Tempest", Act 1 scene 1:
I would fain die a dry death.
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.
The dull-hued turkey apes the gait Of lordly peacock, richly plumed; And thus the poetaster shows When he would fain his verse recite.
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References
Translations for fain
From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary
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"fain." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 19 Apr. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/fain>.
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