Fain \Fain\, v. t. & i. To be glad; to wish or desire. [Obs.]

Whoso fair thing does fain to see. --Spencer.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Fain \Fain\, a. [OE. fain, fagen, AS. f[ae]gen; akin to OS. fagan, Icel. faginn glad; AS. f[ae]gnian to rejoice, OS. fagan[=o]n, Icel. fagna, Goth. fagin[=o]n, cf. Goth. fah[=e]ds joy; and fr. the same root as E. fair. Srr Fair, a., and cf. Fawn to court favor.]

1. Well-pleased; glad; apt; wont; fond; inclined.

Men and birds are fain of climbing high. --Shak.

To a busy man, temptation is fainto climb up together with his business. --Jer. Taylor.

2. Satisfied; contented; also, constrained. --Shak.

The learned Castalio was fain to make trechers at Basle to keep himself from starving. --Locke.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Fain \Fain\, adv. With joy; gladly; -- with wold.

He would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat. --Luke xv. 16.

Fain Would I woo her, yet I dare not. --Shak.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)