FAIN

fain, disposed(p), inclined, prepared

(adjective) having made preparations; “prepared to take risks”

gladly, lief, fain

(adverb) in a willing manner; “this was gladly agreed to”; “I would fain do it”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology 1

Adjective

fain (comparative more fain, superlative most fain)

(archaic) Well-pleased, glad.

(archaic) Satisfied, contented.

(archaic) Eager, willing or inclined to.

(archaic) Obliged or compelled to.

Etymology 2

Adverb

fain (comparative fainer, )

(archaic) With joy; gladly.

(archaic) By will or choice.

Etymology 3

Verb

fain (third-person singular simple present fains, present participle faining, simple past and past participle fained)

(archaic) To be delighted or glad; to rejoice.

(archaic) To gladden.

Anagrams

• an if, fina, naif, naĂŻf

Proper noun

Fain (plural Fains)

A surname.

Statistics

• According to the 2010 United States Census, Fain is the 4379th most common surname in the United States, belonging to 8122 individuals. Fain is most common among White (81.83%) and Black/African American (12.02%) individuals.

Anagrams

• an if, fina, naif, naĂŻf

Source: Wiktionary


Fain, a. Etym: [OE. fain, fagen, AS. fægen; akin to OS. fagan, Icel. faginn glad; AS. fægnian to rejoice, OS. faganon, Icel. fagna, Goth. faginon, cf. Goth. faheds joy; and fr. the same root as E. fair. Srr Fair, a., and cf. Fawn to court favor.]

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, adv.

Definition: 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, v. t. & i.

Definition: To be glad ; to wish or desire. [Obs.] Whoso fair thing does fain to see. Spencer.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



RESET




Word of the Day

3 March 2025

STAND

(verb) hold one’s ground; maintain a position; be steadfast or upright; “I am standing my ground and won’t give in!”


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Coffee Trivia

Coffee has initially been a food – chewed, not sipped. Early African tribes consume coffee by grinding the berries together, adding some animal fat, and rolling the treats into tiny edible energy balls.

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