Fain (?), a. [OE. fain, fagen, AS. faegen; akin to OS. fagan, Icel. faginn glad; AS. faegnian to rejoice, OS. fagan&omac;n, Icel. fagna, Goth. fagin&omac;n, cf. Goth. fah&emac;ds 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.
© Webster 1913.
Fain, adv. 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.
© Webster 1913.
Fain, v. t. & i. To be glad ; to wish or desire. [Obs.]
Whoso fair thing does fain to see.
Spencer.
© Webster 1913. | 
