I. ˈfān adjective
( -er/-est )
Etymology: Middle English fagen, fayn, from Old English fægen; akin to Old Saxon fagin, fagan glad, happy, Old High German faginōn to rejoice, Old Norse fegiun happy, Gothic faginon to rejoice, Old English fæger beautiful — more at fair
1. archaic : pleased , happy
if thou wouldst grant his asking and make his heart full fain — William Morris
2.
a. : glad , willing : inclined , desirous
men and birds are fain of climbing high — Shakespeare
something which the scientists approached with reluctance and which they were fain to leave to the linguists — C.B.Tinker
b. archaic : obliged , constrained, compelled
such a clamor that we were fain to comply — Tobias Smollett
3. Scotland : fond
• fain·ly adverb
II. adverb
Etymology: Middle English fagen, fayn, from fagen, fayn, adjective
1. : happily , joyfully : with glad preference
fain would I woo her — Shakespeare
2. : by preference or acquiescence in view of the circumstances
Macbeth, who, though he would fain repent — H.S.Wilson
III. interjection
Etymology: by alteration
chiefly Britain : fen III