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Definition of 'fain'

Word Frequency

fain in British

(feɪn )
adverb
1. (usually with would) archaic
willingly; gladly
she would fain be dead
adjective
2. obsolete
a. 
willing or eager
b. 
compelled
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word origin of 'fain'
Old English fægen; related to Old Norse fegiun happy, Old High German gifehan to be glad, Gothic fahehs joy; see fawn2
Word Frequency

fain in American

(feɪn ; fān)
adjective Archaic
1. 
glad; ready
2. 
reluctantly willing
3. 
eager
adverb
4.  Archaic
with eagerness; gladly
used with would
he would fain stay
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word origin of 'fain'
ME joyful, joyfully < OE fægen, glad, akin to ON feginn < IE base *pek-, to be satisfied > fair1

Synonyms of 'fain'

gladly, as soon, eagerly, cheerfully
glad, anxious, eager, well-pleased
compelled, constrained, with no alternative but
More Synonyms of fain

Trends of 'fain'

Used Occasionally. fain is one of the 30000 most commonly used words in the Collins dictionary

View usage for:

Nearby words of 'fain'

  • failing that
  • faille
  • failure
  • fain
  • faineant
  • faineantise
  • fainites

  • All ENGLISH words that begin with 'F'

Source

Definition of fain from the Collins English Dictionary

The noun phrase

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Scrabble score for 'fain': 7
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