adj

fain

fayn

adj

Archaic or literary: glad or willing, especially to do something for lack of a better choice.

"She was fain to accept the offer, having no better one."

adv

Archaic or literary: gladly; by choice.

"He would fain have stayed longer, but duty called."

How to Use Fain

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishAn old-fashioned word meaning "gladly" or "willing," now mostly seen in older literature.

When to use it

Archaic — used in poetry and older texts, not modern conversation.

Word Forms

more fain comparative, fainer comparative, fained past tense, fain plural, fained plural, Fains plural, fains singular, fain singular, fained singular, fainest singular, fainedst singular, faineth singular, most fain superlative, fainest superlative

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She was _____ to accept the offer, having no better one.

Etymology

From Old English fægen, "glad, joyful," a word going back to a Proto-Germanic root meaning "glad."

Rhymes for fain

ain rain pain lain gain main vain bain Iain Jain Cain Spain

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