English Explanatory Dictionary

fain

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Often followed by of: glad, well-pleased.
  2. Glad, contented, or satisfied to do something in the absence of a better alternative.
  3. Compelled or obliged to.
  4. Chiefly followed by to, or (obsolete) for or of: eager or willing, or inclined.
  5. Favourable, well-disposed.
  6. Accustomed, apt, wont.
adv
  1. Chiefly preceded or followed by would.
  2. With joy or pleasure; gladly.
  3. By choice or will; willingly.
verb
  1. To be delighted or glad about (someone or something); to rejoice in; also, to favour or prefer (someone or something).
  2. To make (someone) glad; to gladden; hence, to congratulate (someone); to welcome (someone).
  3. To celebrate or worship; specifically, to offer an oblation which is not a sacrificial blót (“ceremonial offering”).
  4. Chiefly followed by of, in, on, or to: to be delighted or glad; to rejoice.
  5. To desire, to wish.
name
  1. A surname.

Pronunciation

/feɪn/ En-us-fain.ogg

Word forms

fain more fain most fain faine fainer fainest fains faining fained no-table-tags glossary fainedst faineth

Etymology

From Middle English fain (“enjoyable, pleasing; fond of; glad, pleased; good, suitable; happy, joyful”), from Old English fægen (“happy, joyful, fain”), from Proto-West Germanic *fagan (“glad”), from Proto-Germanic *faganaz (“glad”), from Proto-Indo-European *peḱ- (“joyful; pretty”). Cognates * Old Norse fagna (“to rejoice”), feginn (“glad, joyful”) * Gothic 𐍆𐌰𐌲𐌹𐌽𐍉𐌽 (faginōn, “to rejoice”) * Old High German fehan, gifehan (“to rejoice”) * Old Saxon fagan, fagin

Synonyms

disposed keen lief raring delight perk up beatify enrapture begladden blissen bright cheer fetch cheer up cherish content elate elevate enbliss exhilarate fain gay gladden gladden someone's heart gratify happify happy hearten jollify laetificate light up make someone's day please raise someone's spirits rejoice turn the frown upside down upcheer warm someone's heart warm the cockles of someone's heart

Antonyms

averse disinclined loath reluctant unwilling

Derived words

fainness unfain
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