fain

fain is defined in Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1913) with 4 senses. The full text of each entry is reproduced verbatim below.

Definitions

  1. 1.Satisfied; contented; also, constrained. Shak. The learned Castalio was fain to make trechers at Basle to keep himself from starving. Locke.
  2. 2.With joy; gladly; -- with wold. He would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat. Luke xv.
  3. 3.Fain Would I woo her, yet I dare not. Shak.
  4. 4.To be glad ; to wish or desire. [Obs.] Whoso fair thing does fain to see. Spencer.

Source: Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).

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