fain

fain
I. adjective Etymology: Middle English fagen, fayn, from Old English fægen; akin to Old English gefēon to rejoice, Old High German gifehan, Old Norse feginn happy Date: before 12th century 1. archaic happy, pleased 2. archaic inclined, desirous 3. a. willing <
he was very fain, for the young widow was “altogether fair and lovely…” — Amy Kelly
> b. being obliged or constrained ; compelled <
Great Britain was fain to devote its whole energy…to the business of slaying and being slain — G. M. Trevelyan
> II. adverb Date: 12th century 1. with pleasure ; gladly <
a speech of fire that fain would blaze — Michael Billington
> 2. a. by preference <
knew it, too, though he would fain not admit it publicly — John Lukacs
> b. by desire <
I would fain consult you — W. S. Gilbert
>

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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  • Fain — ist der Familienname von: Agathon Fain (1778–1837), französischer Baron und Geheimsekretär Napoleons I. Sammy Fain (1901–1989), US amerikanischer Komponist Fain ist der Name folgender Ortschaften in Frankreich: Fain lès Montbard, Gemeinde im… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • fain — FAIN, Ă, faini, e, adj. (reg. şi fam.) Care este de foarte bună calitate. ♦ Frumos, minunat. – Din germ. fein. Trimis de cornel, 05.05.2004. Sursa: DEX 98  fáin adj. m., pl. fáini; f …   Dicționar Român

  • Fain — Fain, a. [OE. fain, fagen, AS. f[ae]gen; akin to OS. fagan, Icel. faginn glad; AS. f[ae]gnian to rejoice, OS. fagan[=o]n, Icel. fagna, Goth. fagin[=o]n, cf. Goth. fah[=e]ds joy; and fr. the same root as E. fair. Srr {Fair}, a., and cf. {Fawn} to… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Fain — Fain, adv. With joy; gladly; with wold. [1913 Webster] He would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat. Luke xv. 16. [1913 Webster] Fain Would I woo her, yet I dare not. Shak. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Fain — Fain, v. t. & i. To be glad; to wish or desire. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] Whoso fair thing does fain to see. Spencer. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • fain — fain·ness; fain; fain·ly; …   English syllables

  • fain — [ feın ] adverb would fain an old phrase meaning would like to …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • fain — [fān] adj. [ME joyful, joyfully < OE fægen, glad, akin to ON feginn < IE base * pek , to be satisfied > FAIR1] Archaic 1. glad; ready 2. reluctantly willing 3. eager adv. Archaic with eagerness; gladly: used with would [he would fain… …   English World dictionary

  • Fain — (spr. Fäng), Agathon Jean Fréderic, Baron von F; geb. 1778 in Paris, wurde 1796 an dem Directorium Chef des Correspondenzbureaux, unter dem Consulat Divisionschef der Archive, bald darauf im Staatssecretariat angestellt, u. als Napoleon 1804… …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Fain — (spr. fäng), Agathon Jean François, Baron, erster Geheimsekretär Napoleons I., geb. 11. Jan. 1778 in Paris, gest. 14. Sept. 1837, ward 1793 Sekretär des Militärausschusses des Nationalkonvents und 1796 Divisionschef der Archive, kam 1806 als… …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Fain — (Fäng), Baron de, geb. 1778 zu Paris, Napoleons Secretär vom 18. Brumaire an, war seinem Herrn treu und ist durch die Herausgabe der »Manuscrits« über die J. III, 1813 u. 1814 ein um die Geschichte jener großen Zeit sehr verdienter Schriftsteller …   Herders Conversations-Lexikon

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