fain

[ feyn ]
/ feɪn /

adverb

gladly; willingly: He fain would accept.

adjective

content; willing: They were fain to go.
Archaic. constrained; obliged: He was fain to obey his Lord.
Archaic. glad; pleased.
Archaic. desirous; eager.

Origin of fain

before 900; Middle English; Old English fæg(e)n; cognate with Old Norse feginn happy; akin to fair1

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH fain

fain faint feign feint

Example sentences from the Web for fain

British Dictionary definitions for fain

fain
/ (feɪn) /

adverb

(usually with would) archaic willingly; gladly she would fain be dead

adjective

obsolete
  1. willing or eager
  2. compelled

Word Origin for fain

Old English fægen; related to Old Norse fegiun happy, Old High German gifehan to be glad, Gothic fahehs joy; see fawn ²