fain Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective satellite having made preparations
    inclined; disposed; prepared.
    • prepared to take risks
  2. adverb in a willing manner
    gladly; lief.
    • this was gladly agreed to
    • I would fain do it

WordNet

Fain adjective
Etymology
OE. fain, fagen, AS. fægen; akin to OS. fagan, Icel. faginn glad; AS. fægnian to rejoice, OS. fagan&omac;n, Icel. fagna, Goth. fagin&omac;n, cf. Goth. faheds joy; and fr. the same root as E. fair. Srr Fair, a., and cf. Fawn to court favor.
Definitions
  1. Well-pleased; glad; apt; wont; fond; inclined.
    Men and birds are fain of climbing high. Shak.
    To a busy man, temptation is fainto climb up together with his business. Jer. Taylor.
  2. Satisfied; contented; also, constrained. Shak.
    The learned Castalio was fain to make trechers at Basle to keep himself from starving. Locke.
Fain adverb
Definitions
  1. With joy; gladly; -- with wold.
    He would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat. Luke xv. 16.
    Fain Would I woo her, yet I dare not. Shak.
Fain transitive verb & intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To be glad ; to wish or desire. Obs.
    Whoso fair thing does fain to see. Spencer.

Webster 1913