adj
fain
fayn
Fain (adj) means Archaic or literary: glad or willing, especially to do something for lack of a better choice. Example: “She was fain to accept the offer, having no better one.”
adj
1
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
1
Archaic or literary: gladly; by choice.
"He would fain have stayed longer, but duty called."
How to use fain
Learner’s notesIn 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.
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- fains
- Past tense
- fained
- Comparative
- more fain, fainer
- Superlative
- most fain, fainest
- Archaic forms
- fainest, fainedst, faineth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
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."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for fain
See all rhymes for fain →Frequently asked questions
What does “fain” mean?
The word “fain” means archaic or literary: glad or willing, especially to do something for lack of a better choice. In plain terms, an old-fashioned word meaning "gladly" or "willing," now mostly seen in older literature.
How do you pronounce “fain”?
“Fain” is pronounced fayn (/feɪn/ in IPA).
How do you use “fain” in a sentence?
Here is “fain” used in a sentence: “She was fain to accept the offer, having no better one.”
What part of speech is “fain”?
Depending on how it is used, “fain” can be an adjective and an adverb.
Where does the word “fain” come from?
The word “fain” comes from Old English. From Old English fægen, "glad, joyful," a word going back to a Proto-Germanic root meaning "glad.".
How many meanings does “fain” have?
“Fain” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: archaic or literary: glad or willing, especially to do something for lack of a better choice.
