Fain
/feɪn/noun
Gladly; willingly.
Did you know?In medieval literature, 'fain' was often used to denote a longing or desire that felt almost otherworldly, connecting it to notions of fate and destiny.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bʰeh₂-
“to speak, to say, to tell”
Old English
Old English
fǽgen
“joyful, glad, or content”
Middle English
Middle English
fain
“gladly, willingly, or with pleasure”
Early Modern English
Early Modern English
fain
“glad; willingly; often used in poetic contexts”